B-5 – Area 5 - Assessment of Environmental Effects 167 potential for contamination of ground or surface water;139 potential for interference effects on neighbouring bores;140 possible monitoring methods;141 demonstration that physical access to the water does not adversely affect any other land and/or property owner;142 and the nature of hydraulic connection (if any) between the groundwater resource from which water is proposed to be taken and surface waterbodies.143 Area 5 is within the Waihi Basin aquifer management area. The Waihi Basin aquifer is not currently subject to a sustainable yield in accordance with Tables 3-6 of the WRP, therefore the groundwater take has been assessed against the management level identified for the aquifer as set out in Section 2.4.3 of GHD (2022b) and Section 5.11 of this AEE. The rationale for the abstraction of groundwater within Area 5 is explained in Section 3 of this AEE, while the actual and potential effects of the abstraction of groundwater (and how these will be managed) are discussed in Section 5 of this AEE. In particular, it is noted that the abstraction of groundwater is necessary to provide safe and efficient access to the mineral resource. The groundwater take is also within the management limits identified for the Waihi Basin aquifer. Further, it is concluded that the abstraction of groundwater will not have any discernible effect on any existing groundwater abstraction, the natural variability of surrounding waterbodies or habitats within the surrounding pastoral farmland or any other aquifers). In accordance with Objective 3.3.2, sufficient water will therefore remain within the catchment to meet the needs of existing and reasonably foreseeable domestic, municipal and animal drinking water requirements; to safeguard the life supporting capacity of freshwater and to meet the future social and economic needs of individuals and communities. The water take will also avoid further degradation of water quality and the assimilative capacity of water bodies. 7.6.1.4 Discharges to water Objective 3.5.2 of the WRP seeks that discharges of contaminants to water be undertaken in a manner that: 139 Policy 12(q), Section 3.3, Waikato Regional Plan. 140 Policy 12(r), Section 3.3, Waikato Regional Plan. 141 Policy 12(u), Section 3.3, Waikato Regional Plan. 142 Policy 12(v), Section 3.3, Waikato Regional Plan. 143 Policy 12(w), Section 3.3, Waikato Regional Plan.
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