B-5 – Area 5 - Assessment of Environmental Effects 177 7.6.1.10 Discharges onto or into lands Objective 5.2.2 of the WRP 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: does not contaminate soil to levels that present significant risks to human health or the wider environment;210 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;211 does not have adverse effects related to particulate matter, odour or hazardous substances that are inconsistent with the Air Quality objectives in Section 6.1.2;212 is not inconsistent with the objectives in Section 5.1.2;213 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.214 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 within Area 5: The discharge of water to land within the sediment retention ponds is necessary to manage potential effects of undertaking activities in high risk erosion areas. Discharging such water to land will ensure that the effects of sedimentation within waterbodies is appropriately mitigated;215 As described in Section 5.11 of this AEE, runoff and seepage from the GOP TSF will be intercepted by an underdrainage system and decanting collection systems and will be pumped to the WTP for treatment prior to discharge into the Ohinemuri River. These features are designed to specifically contain and treat contaminants such that they will 210 Objective 5.2.2(a), Section 5.2 Waikato Regional Plan. 211 Objective 5.2.2(b), Section 5.2 Waikato Regional Plan. 212 Objective 5.2.2(c), Section 5.2 Waikato Regional Plan. 213 Objective 5.2.2(d), Section 5.2 Waikato Regional Plan. 214 Objective 5.2.2(e) and (f), Section 5.2 Waikato Regional Plan. 215 Objective 5.2.2(b), Section 5.2, Waikato Regional Plan.
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