B-2 – Area 2 - Assessment of Environmental Effects 116 surface water uses will not be affected by dewatering activities associated with the Willows Farm Access Tunnel.105 Based on the assessment undertaken in the Boffa Miskell (2022a) and GHD (2022b) reports, discharges of sediment from sediment retention and collection ponds and seepage of leachate to groundwater and surface water will not generate significant adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems, nor will it affect the reasonably foreseeable range of groundwater and surface water users.106 Wastewater generated on-site will be treated via a package sewage treatment plant established on-site. Discharge water from the plant will be directed to the transpiration pit (soak away) and will be located remotely from the Mataura Stream and its tributaries to ensure that it does not generate any adverse effects on those waterbodies or the values ascribed to them.107 The extent and quality of the Mataura Wetland will be enhanced through further planting and fencing of the wetland in the short term. Over the longer term, the wetland will be part of the wider site rehabilitation and closure plan.108 Natural character is discussed in Section 5.2.3 of the AEE. As concluded in this section, the proposed activities within the river and its margins are not inappropriate from a natural character perspective.109 Accordingly, water bodies associated with the development, operation and use of Area 2 will be managed to ensure the outcomes sought by Objective 3.1.2 and the associated policies are achieved (noting tangata whenua matters are addressed in Section 5 of the Overarching AEE). 7.6.1.3 Water Takes Objective 3.3.2 relates to the management of water allocation. The outcomes sought by this objective include ensuring: water availability meets the needs of existing and the reasonably justified and foreseeable future domestic or municipal supply requirements and animal drinking water requirements;110 the efficient allocation and the efficient use of water;111 105 Objective 3.1.2(f), Section 3.1, Waikato Regional Plan. 106 Objective 3.1.2(c) and (f), Section 3.1, Waikato Regional Plan. 107 Objective 3.1.2(k), Section 3.1, Waikato Regional Plan. 108 Objective 3.1.2(h), Section 3.1, Waikato Regional Plan. 109 Objective 3.1.2(l), Section 3.1, Waikato Regional Plan. 110 Objective 3.3.2(b), Section 3.3, Waikato Regional Plan. 111 Objective 3.3.2(d), Section 3.3, Waikato Regional Plan.
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