oldrotorhead, this is a quote from a draft copy I requested from CASA of their recently released (I think) flying instructors manual for planks, referring to the precautionary search and landing. To my mind, this is a situation analogous to a pad recce:
"Draw a plan of a field for the student and brief on how to
fly parallel to and normally to the right of the proposed
landing path. This run should be made with the optimum
flap setting at slow cruising speed. This preliminary
inspection should be sufficiently low for the surface to
be inspected but not so low that it is necessary to avoid
obstacles. Another point to impress on the student is that
the inspection runs should be made at a constant height
and not as a slow descent necessitating a frantic climb to
avoid obstacles on the far boundary. If not satisfied with
the surface complete at least one other inspection run at
a lower height if necessary."
I read this as saying they think it's fine to fly at whatever height you need to be at to carry out an effective inspection, implying, to my mind at least, that they would consider this to be a part of the landing procedure for the purposes of the low flying CAR.
It could be argued that the precautionary search and landing is an emergency procedure to be carried out to avoid running out of fuel, light or weather options, but I feel it's reasonable to suggest that a good pad recce is a necessary part of the landing sequence, and that we'd be neglecting our duty of care to self and pax by not going low enough to do it properly.