B-3 – Area 3 - Assessment of Environmental Effects 52 The effects of diverting groundwater on ground water allocation is considered with respect to Objective 3.15 of the RPS.70 Overall, the diversion activities associated with Area 3 will not generate adverse effects that are inconsistent with the water management objectives in Section 3.1.2 or associated surface water policies in Section 3.2.3, nor will they increase any adverse effects of flooding or land instability hazards or affect contaminant assimilative capacity, minimum flows or allocable flows for out of stream uses. 7.6.1.6 Discharges onto or into land Objective 5.2.2 of the Waikato Regional Plan relates to the discharges of wastes and hazardous substances onto or into land. It acknowledges that discharges onto, or into, land are a necessary facet of resource use in the Waikato Region and, subject to environmental standards, should be allowed to occur. In that context, it seeks that these discharges be undertaken in a manner that, as relevant to Area 3: Does not contaminate soil to levels that present significant risks to human health or the wider environment; 71 Does not have adverse effects on aquatic habitats, surface water quality or ground water quality that are inconsistent with the Water Management objectives in Section 3.1.2;72 Is not inconsistent with the objectives in Section 5.1.2;73 and Avoids significant adverse effects, and remedies or mitigates cumulative adverse effects, on the relationship that tangata whenua as kaitiaki have with their taonga, such as ancestral lands, water and waahi tapu.74 Policy 2 of Section 5.2.3 follows a similar theme as the objective and seeks that discharges of contaminants to land be undertaken in a manner that avoids, where practicable, adverse effects on a range of values. Where the avoidance of adverse effects is not possible, the policy seeks that they be remedied or mitigated. Of particular note with respect to discharges to land associated with Area 3: OGNZL has utilised a combination of methods to effectively manage the andesite material that is likely to be encountered during development of the tunnel at its existing Waihi operations. Spoil management strategies will be put in place that utilise 70 Objective 3.6.2(g), Section 3.6, Waikato Regional Plan. 71 Objective 5.2.2(a), Section 5.2, Waikato Regional Plan. 72 Objective 5.2.2(b), Section 5.2, Waikato Regional Plan. 73 Objective 5.2.2(d), Section 5.2, Waikato Regional Plan. 74 Objective 5.2.2(e) and (f), Section 5.2, Waikato Regional Plan.
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