B-6 – Area 6 – Assessment of Environmental Effects 94 confluence with the diversion channel. Once the diversion channel is operational, these restrictions will be removed. Accordingly, public access will be maintained to this tributary. The surrounding land is currently held in private ownership. No change is proposed to this access arrangement. 7.5.1.7 Natural Hazards Objective 3.24 of the Regional Policy Statement seeks that the effects of natural hazards on people, property and the environment are managed by: increasing community resilience to hazard risks;62 reducing the risks from hazards to acceptable or tolerable levels;63 and enabling the effective and efficient response and recovery from natural hazard events.64 The associated policies go on to direct natural hazard risks be managed using an integrated and holistic approach that ensures the risks from natural hazards do not exceed an acceptable level, and development is managed to reduce the risks from natural hazards to an acceptable or tolerable level.65 ‘Natural hazard’ is defined in the RMA as any atmospheric or earth or water related occurrence (including earthquake, tsunami, erosion, volcanic and geothermal activity, landslip, subsidence, sedimentation, wind, drought, fire, or flooding), the action of which adversely affects or may adversely affect human life, property, or other aspects of the environment. Section 5.4 of this AEE describes the natural hazard exposure of the wider site. As set out in this assessment, the underlying geotechnical conditions, seismic and flood hazard profile of the area have been accounted for in the conceptual design of the NRS and diversion channels, such that these features will not present an unacceptable or intolerable level of risk for those working in and around the NRS or downstream of the diversion channel. 7.5.1.8 Soils Objective 3.25 of the RPS seeks that the soil resource is managed to safeguard its lifesupporting capacity, for the existing and foreseeable range of uses. Associated policies direct that: 62 Objective 3.24(a), Waikato Regional Policy Statement. 63 Objective 3.24(b), Waikato Regional Policy Statement. 64 Objective 3.24(c), Waikato Regional Policy Statement. 65 Policies 13.1 and 13.2, Waikato Regional Policy Statement.
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