HILLS LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT

The selection of work comes from the evidence statement and graphics attachment for the council hearing of the resource consent application for an eco lodge in the Port Hills, Christchurch.

The skills of preparing the evidence statement and graphic attachment in landscape planning are specified as formal writing, landscape and visual effects analysis, mitigation illustration.

Broad Landscape Characterisation

11. The landscape in Port Hills was shaped by volcanic activities. The land use in it contains rural land uses. In particular, forestry on the upper slopes and rural residential and grazing on the lower slopes. Some of the agricultural blocks are starting to be replaced by new residential subdivisions.

12. The distinctive volcanic landscape is mostly located on the upper slopes of Port Hills, which are protected by Selwyn District Plan as an Outstanding Natural Landscape (ONL). There is very few native vegetation left on the site. Historically, they are most cleared while developing the agricultural settlement. The indigenous plants only exist and regenerate in the gullies and reserves.

Site Description And Context

13. The proposed site is located in landscape character area B of Lower slopes in Port Hills. (As shown in figure 3 on page 5 in Graphic Attachment) The site is surrounded by a forestry farm on the north and grazing farms on the south.

14. The area in this landscape character area contains the volcanic landform including the ridges, spurs, rocky outcrops and volcanic dykes. But the legibility of them is less obvious compared to those ones on the upper slopes of Port Hills, because of the higher modification level on the original landscape.

15. In my opinion, the overall landscape values of the site are high considering on the aspects of physical, perceptual and associative. (As shown in Appendix A on page 8)

Visual Simulations And Building Design

20. YSL has prepared 4 visual simulations for this hearing, which informed the conclusion I have drawn regarding to the visibility of the proposal in my evidence. I can confirm that the visual simulation is based on the appropriate landform information provided by Marcus Robinson, which following Best Practice Guide Visual Simulations BPG 10.2 issued by NZILA in 2017. The building has been modelled within their specific size and height.

21. For this hearing, an architectural design and illustration has been prepared by Marcus Robinson. The proposed building is the second structure within the 40-hectare site, and it is bigger than 40m² structure size limitation in Port Hills area, which is regulated in Selwyn District Plan, which trigger a resource consent to construct that building. To fit the building in the local landscape, location A was recommended from the 2 lodge locations (A & B) from clients’ preference. (As shown in figure 4.0 on page 6 in Graphic Attachment)

22. The building in the visual simulations have been modelled on the recommended location A, where the visibility is less obvious from the bottom of the ridges.

23. For the visual simulations the location and height of the house and proposed planting has been digitally modelled in 3D and interpolated into photographs. The viewpoints have been chosen to illustrate effects from where direct views could be gained in Tai Tapu Township and along Rhodes Road. (As shown in figure 4.0 on page 6 in Graphic Attachment)

24. From the viewpoints along Old Tai Tapu Road and Rhodes Road are all sitting at the bottom of the ridges on the south of the property. The proposed lodge and site is with different visibility levels from the 4 viewpoints. (As shown in figure 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 from page 7 to 10; figure 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 from page 12 to 15 in Graphic Attachment and Appendix B on page 10)

25. The planting illustrated in the visual simulations shows the proposed screening plants mixed with native and exotic species which is shown in the figure 6 on page 16 in Graphic Attachment.

Visual Simulation