B-1 - Area 1, Coromandel Forest Park – Assessment of Environmental Effects 79 5.9 BLASTING AND VIBRATION EFFECTS An assessment of the actual and potential effects from blasting and vibration associated with the WNP is provided in Heilig (2022), a copy of which is provided in Part H of these application documents. The WUG operation is planned to include production blasting over a range of depths, including both cut and fill mining and conventional stoping in the deeper sections. The potential effects of the vibration from blasting were considered important for Archey’s frog and for this reason considerable work has been undertaken in consultation with the project ecologists to characterise the level of surface vibration from blasting activities and to minimise surface vibration to the extent it is practicable to do so. The output of that work is a viable mine plan which will limit the area expected to experience vibration above that Archey’s frog are known to endure (2mm/s) to approximately 315 ha, and which limits the maximum vibration at the surface to no more than 15 mm/s for 95% of blast events. The ecology assessments discussed in Section 5.4 above have been completed based on this vibration envelope, and conditions are proposed which will ensure that OGNZL manage its blasting operations to achieve it. The modelling undertaken by Heilig (2022) shows that the vibration from blasting at WUG will not be noticeable to occupants of properties around the area as the production blasting for the WUG will occur more than 5km away from any residential properties. The modelling undertaken by Heilig (2022) indicates that vibration may be felt by users of the Wharekirauponga to Golden Cross Track as slightly to strongly perceptible events. Greenaway (2022) concludes that this represents a minor effect given the low level of use of the Track, the low likelihood of detonations occurring while a tramper is nearby, and the low scale of effect should a blast event be experienced. 5.10 EFFECTS ON PUBLIC ACCESS AND RECREATION An assessment of the potential effects of the WNP on recreational and tourism values is provided in Greenaway (2022), a copy of which is provided in Part H of these application documents. Up to four ventilation raises will be located within an area defined by DOC as recreation ‘remote’ zones. These areas are typically characterised by limited infrastructure and basic facilities that support recreation – such as “basic low-use tracks, marked routes and huts”. Within these areas, low levels of recreational use are expected, as are encounter rates with other people. In a recreational context, the potential adverse effects of the project include members of the public encountering the raises during tramping or hunting activities and hearing the noise of the vents operating. Given the location of the raises in a
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