B-6 – Area 6 – Assessment of Environmental Effects 95 the soil resource is managed to minimise sedimentation and erosion, maintain or enhance biological, chemical and physical soil properties and retain soil versatility to protect the existing and foreseeable range of uses;66 a decline in the availability of high class soils for primary production due to inappropriate use or development is avoided;67 and contaminants in soils are minimised.68 With respect to these directives: Area 6 is not located within an area identified as being “high class soil”;69 A large portion of the NRS site is currently occupied by OGNZL’s northern stockpile, therefore the existing and foreseeable uses are both mining related. Nonetheless, all stripped topsoil from within the NRS footprint will be stockpiled for reuse during closure;70 Erosion and sediment control plans, as set out in Southern Skies (2022) report, will be implemented during construction of the NRS and associated features, including stockpiles, to ensure sedimentation and erosion is minimised;71 and Measures will be implemented to minimise the potential leaching and runoff of contaminants from the NRS into groundwater, surface water and surrounding land. These measures will all minimise the potential for soil contamination arising from activities occurring within Area 6.72 In light of the above, discharges of contaminants from contaminated land within the site will therefore be managed so they do not present significant risk to human health, flora or fauna due to the contamination of soil and ground or surface water, do not have adverse effects on water quality or aquatic ecosystems, or do not generate adverse effects on air quality that are inconsistent with air quality objectives. As previously noted, OGNZL continues to work with tangata whenua regarding cultural effects and how the project can best accommodate and provide for their relationship with identified taonga. This is considered further in Section 5 of the Overarching AEE. 66 Policy 14.1, Waikato Regional Policy Statement. 67 Policy 14.2, Waikato Regional Policy Statement. 68 Policy 14.3, Waikato Regional Policy Statement. 69 Policy 14.2(c), Waikato Regional Policy Statement. 70 Policy 14.1(c), Waikato Regional Policy Statement. 71 Policy 14.2(a), Waikato Regional Policy Statement. 72 Policies 14.1(b)-(c) and 14.3, Waikato Regional Policy Statement.
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