Site-specific Assessments of Environmental Effects

B-1 - Area 1, Coromandel Forest Park – Assessment of Environmental Effects 111 7.5.1.6 Soils Objective 3.25 of the RPS seeks that the soil resource is managed to safeguard its life supporting capacity for the existing and foreseeable range of uses. Associated Policy 14.1 directs that the soil resource is managed to (as relevant) maintain or enhance biological, chemical and physical soil properties and retain soil versatility to protect the existing and foreseeable range of uses. As noted above with respect to Policy 8.2, mining activities within Area 1 will be managed to ensure there is no measurable change in soil regolith. As a consequence, there will be no change to the biological, chemical or physical properties of the soil, and its life supporting capacity will be maintained in accordance with the outcomes sought by Objective 3.25. 7.5.1.7 Overall Conclusion Overall, it is concluded that the activities proposed within Area 1 can be undertaken in a manner that will not reduce the environmental values ascribed to CFP and any potential adverse effects on significant indigenous flora and fauna will be offset to achieve an overall net gain. As set out in the preceding sections, the activities within Area 1 are therefore being managed such that they are consistent with the outcomes sought in the aforementioned objectives and policies of the RPS. 7.6 REGIONAL AND DISTRICT PLANS 7.6.1 Waikato Regional Plan The WRP contains objectives, policies, methods and rules relating to the management of natural and physical resources of the Waikato Region. The WRP addresses the following topics of relevance to Area 1: Water – including provisions which address recent national policy direction, water takes, efficient use, discharges to water, and the diversion of water; Land and soil – including provisions which address works in high risk erosion areas, and discharges onto or into land; and Air – including the management of dust and other discharges of contaminants to air. OGNZL continues to work with tangata whenua regarding the effects of the project on cultural values. Provisions within the WRP regarding cultural values have been assessed within Section 9 of the Overarching AEE. 7.6.1.1 National Direction Policy A4 and B7 of the National Policy Statement 2014 were inserted into the WRP in August 2015. Despite a new NPSFM being released in 2020, the 2014 policies remain in the WRP.

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