B-5 – Area 5 - Assessment of Environmental Effects 142 quality or ecological values of the Ohinemuri River (Boffa Miskell 2022a). Nonetheless, reconsenting of the WTP discharges is supported by OGNZL’s additional proposed conditions of consent. These will require more monitoring of in-stream attributes, consistent with the changes to freshwater management introduced by the NPSFM. Consequently, as demonstrated in Section 5 of this AEE and summarised above, the various activities proposed in Area 5, both individually and in combination, will prioritise the health and well-being of water bodies and freshwater ecosystems, will promote the health needs of people, thus the ability of people and communities to provide for their social, economic and cultural wellbeing, now and into the future. OGNZL continues to engage with tangata whenua regarding activities occurring within Area 5 and the wider WNP. Through this consultation process, OGNZL is focussed on how the project can establish and operate in a way which protects the mauri of the wai and restores and preserves the balance between water, the environment and community, will be established. 7.4.1.2 Policy 6 Policy 6 of the NPSFM seeks to ensure that there is no loss to the extent of natural inland wetlands and that their values are protected. Policy 6 also promotes the restoration of natural inland wetlands. This is further elaborated on Policy 3.A.2 of the WRP. As discussed in Sections 2, 5.11 and 5.14 of this AEE, the Gladstone Wetland is located to the south of the GOP. The Gladstone Wetland is a natural inland wetland, as defined by the NPSFM. Of relevance to Policy 6: All construction work will avoid directly encroaching into the wetland; The reclamation of the upper reaches of the Gladstone Wetland headwater gully is predicted to reduce groundwater flows to the wetland by approximately 33 % and surface water runoff and interflow to the wetland by approximately 26 %. A 0.5 m reduction in the groundwater level adjacent to the wetland is also predicted, however this is within the natural variability of the wetland; Following closure of the TSF, the capping layer will be recontoured to direct rainfall runoff towards to the Gladstone Wetland. Rewatering of the deep groundwater system will also occur. Discharge of groundwater, stormwater and interflow to the wetland is therefore predicted to increase, with the deep and shallow groundwater; and Baseline monitoring of the Gladstone Wetland vegetation will be undertaken predevelopment and periodically during operation of the GOP. The monitoring is recommended with a view to understanding whether hydrological changes (however small) resulting from the GOP have altered the existing wetland flora or soil moisture levels.
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