Volume Three Appendix 2 Outstanding Natural Character Areas 1. D’Urville Island Abiotic Values - Nationally important geological features including Greville Harbour boulder spit and serpentinitic breccias along parts of western coast. - The island has a unique mineral belt geology including many heavily mineralised ultramafic areas. - Complex and varied marine environment with a range of aspects and exposures. Biotic Values - Indigenous vegetation on the upland parts of D’Urville Island is largely intact and includes possum-free tracts of kohekohe, titoki and southern rata. Island communities here are nationally important. - Nationally important, unique ultramafic vegetation is extensive and includes species that are endemic to the island due to their adaptation to the high levels of trace elements found in the soil. - Other communities include dune, spit, beach, lagoon, freshwater wetland, estuarine and alluvial communities, which are all very distinctive and rare in the Sounds. - Waters of inner Greville Harbour and southern Port Hardy are flanked by extensive tracts of indigenous forest. - D’Urville Island contains one of the more extensive tracts of lowland forest remaining in Marlborough. - Largely unmodified and highly diverse near-shore coastal marine environment ranging from exposed to very sheltered shores. - Abundant populations of native freshwater fish. - Healthy stands of sea sedge at the head of Greville Harbour. Experiential - Minimal land and marine development with a highly natural coastline. Values D’Urville Island holds extremely high experiential values, partially due to its semi- - remoteness, but equally due to its perceived lack of modification. 2. French Pass Abiotic Values - Very strong currents occur in the vicinity of French Pass. - Dangerous eddies and undercurrents. - Strong tidal mixing. - Submerged ridge at French Pass. Biotic Values - Largely unmodified near-shore coastal marine environment; very sheltered shores. - High flow habitats and communities associated with Current Basin and French Pass. Experiential - Visually dramatic current movement. Submerged ridge forming a distinctive reef Values across the narrows of French Pass. App 2 - 19