Canterbury mountain landscape and ski field development : a landscape management study

Darby, John

Abstract

The Canterbury Mountainland is an important regional resource. Its value is not due to is productive capabilities but its aesthetic and ecological qualities contained within. The mountain environment offers a diverse range of recreational opportunities from gregarious pursuits, such as climbing and skiing, to the more contemplative activities as in scenic viewing. Great diversity also exists in the levels of compatibility between these various uses and with the resource itself. Skifields, the most intensive of mountainland uses, have experienced a dramatic increase in patronage. Such an increase in level of use is considered to be likely impetus for further expansion and development of ski area facilities. Past development has had marked impact upon aesthetic and ecological quality of the mountain landscape. In view of the greater importance of the Canterbury mountainland to the region, any development must be in respect of these inherent qualities if the value of this resource is to be retained.

Keywords

Canterbury; mountain landscape; ski field development; skiing; landscape management; landscape architecture; ski area impact; landscape values; regional assessment; ski field design

Fields of Research

120101 Architectural Design; 120105 Architecture Management; 120107 Landscape Architecture

Date

1979

Type

Dissertation

Access Rights

Digital thesis can be viewed by current staff and students of Lincoln University only. Print copy available for reading in Lincoln University Library.