Site-specific Assessments of Environmental Effects

B-1 - Area 1, Coromandel Forest Park – Assessment of Environmental Effects 83 agreements. It is proposed that those proven methods be also applied to the proposed activities, and they form the basis of many of the proposed conditions. Work commissioned by OGNZL for this project means the best estimate for the total Coromandel Archey’s frog population is 54.8 million frogs. This is substantially greater than original assumptions of national population size, of between 5,000 - 20,000 mature individuals. When mining commences there is a low (but uncertain) risk for this project to generate residual adverse effects on Archey’s frogs within the 314 ha area exposed to vibrations greater than 2mm/s, or the area exposed to vent discharges. There is a range of mitigation measures being proposed to reduce any potential effect. To further offset potential effects predator and pest control is also being proposed. This will lead to habitat enhancement for frog species and it the WNP will ultimately provide for a net benefit to Archey’s frogs. In addition, the Waihi North Biodiversity Project represents an opportunity to provide major long term (inter-generational) ecological benefits to the wider CFP area. This work is not required to mitigate or offset any adverse effects associated with the project. The WUG and Dual Tunnels are located beneath DOC land and are in surface water catchments that are identified as ‘natural state’ in the WRP. Because of this, groundwatersurface water interaction has been very carefully considered for this project. Central to this, OGNZL is proffering a condition of consent which requires it to manage its mining activities within the CFP so they do not cause any measurable changes in the natural flows or water quality in any surface water body. Various technical assessments have been provided by New Zealand and international based experts which outline how this will be done using relatively standard and proven methodologies for managing dewatering in this type of activity.

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE2NDg3