might also have placed stress on some species, for instance logging of totara for construction, and of rata for firewood.

Celmisia 'pupu' is a local endemic found at Pupu Springs, the present site, Fifteen Mile in the Aorere, and from Puponga to Wanganui Inlet. Given that this species has its closest relatives in Coromandel, it may represent an adaptation to highly mineralized soils. Rubus australis is a local swamp forest species, indicating that the Richmond Flat swamp is at least partially natural.

The pakihi vegetation has a range of characteristic species, including three lycopodiums, sedges and Epacris shrubs.

Regeneration is well developed on some of substrates formed by roading and mining. These places are more fertile than natural surfaces and with the heavy rainfall facilitate rapid colonization.

3. POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE HYDRO SCHEME

3.1 Roading

A road into the Richmond Flat area is required to allow repairs to the dam and formation of a water race to the pipeline intake. Disturbance to parts of Richmond Flat and swampland around the intake would have little lasting deleterious impact, as these areas are repeatedly disturbed by flooding. However, the large population of swamp coprosma is distinctive and should be avoided. Damage to the swamp forest along the western edge of the flat should be avoided because there is a range of species not seen elsewhere and the mature and regenerating kahikatea form a special feature. The hand-made rock 'stop-bank' with its regenerating forest is also a special feature of the place. The existing road, although showing advanced regeneration about 30 years old, is the logical route for a road into the Flat. The riverbed is composed of small stones and could be used for access. Disturbance to original bush is not desirable and is probably not necessary because the most likely access routes would be along existing tracks or through regenerating bush.

An alternative route for a road is from the saddle above Glen Gyle Creek. This route would involve removing regenerating bush, especially tree ferns and kamahi and care would be needed to avoid the gold mining landforms. The only lacebark seen occurs in this area.

Roading through the pakihi above the valley would have little impact and would open up the vegetation for some of the pakihi ground species.

A temporary track to form the pipeline down Glen Gyle Creek would cause local damage to the regenerating bush. There are no rare species here and not a wide range of species. However, the slope is a conspicuous landscape feature, the regeneration is advanced, and the slope is unstable in places.

Any fresh earth works would open the area up to the establishment of weed species, in particular gorse, hakea, Himalayan honeysuckle and blackberry. A weed control programme would need to accompany the work. Roading might improve the opportunity for recreational hunting, in particular of pigs, which are very damaging at present, and goats and/or deer, and would also encourage the public observation of the gold mining remnants.

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