B-5 – Area 5 - Assessment of Environmental Effects 161 the extent to which the discharge avoids contamination that will have an adverse effect on the life-supporting capacity of freshwater and on the health of people and communities;88 and the extent to which it is feasible and dependable that any more than minor adverse effect on freshwater or the health of people and communities, resulting from the discharge would be avoided.89 Similar to Policy A4, Policy B7 requires the consent authority to have regard to the following matters when considering any application for the taking, using, damming or diversion of freshwater or the drainage of a wetland which is likely to result in a more than minor adverse change in the natural variability of flows or level of freshwater: the extent to which the change would adversely affect safeguarding the life supporting capacity of freshwater and of any associated ecosystem;90 and the extent to which it is feasible and dependable that any adverse effect on the life supporting capacity of freshwater resulting from the change would be avoided.91 As discussed in Section 4of this AEE, a number of discharge activities are proposed with Area 5. Sections 5 and 6 of this AEE describe how the potential effects of the discharge activities will not give rise to adverse effects on the life-supporting capacity of freshwater or the health of people and the community that are more than minor.92 Notwithstanding, OGNZL has committed to reviewing its discharge limits as future plan changes are implemented to give effect to the NOF of the NPSFM, ensuring that its activities do not frustrate the ability for ongoing improvements to the quality and life supporting capacity of the Ohinemuri River. Similarly, the taking, damming and diversion of freshwater is described in Section 4 of this AEE. As concluded in Section 5 of this AEE, overall, the taking, damming and diversion of water within Area 5 will not result in a more than minor adverse change to the natural variability of flows of freshwater levels within the surrounding area to the extent that it would adversely affect the life supporting capacity of freshwater. These outcomes are further secured by way of resource consent conditions, as described in Section 6 of this AEE.93 Many of these conditions have been successfully implemented on existing damming and diversion consents within Area 5, with monitoring confirming their effectiveness at achieving the outcomes sought by these policies. 88 Policy A4(1)(a) and (2)(a), Section 3, Waikato Regional Plan. 89 Policy A4(1)(b) and (2)(b), Section 3, Waikato Regional Plan. 90 Policy B7(1)(a), Section 3, Waikato Regional Plan. 91 Policy B7(1)(b), Section 3, Waikato Regional Plan. 92 Policy A4(1) and (2), Section 3, Waikato Regional Plan. 93 Policy B7(1)(b), Section 3, Waikato Regional Plan.
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