B-6 – Area 6 – Assessment of Environmental Effects 96 7.5.1.9 Overall Conclusion Overall, it is concluded that activities within Area 6 can be undertaken in a manner that is generally consistent with the key outcomes sought from the directive objectives and policies identified in the RPS above. 7.6 REGIONAL AND DISTRICT PLANS 7.6.1 Waikato Regional Plan The WRP contains objectives, policies, methods and rules relating to the management of natural and physical resources of the Waikato Region. The WRP addresses the following topics of relevance to Area 6: water – including provisions which address recent national policy direction, water takes, efficient use, discharges to water, and the damming and diversion of water; lake and river beds – including provisions relating to the erection and use of structures; land and soil – including provisions which address works in high risk erosion areas, and discharges onto or into land; and air – including the management of dust and other discharges of contaminants to air. OGNZL continues to work with tangata whenua regarding the effects of the project on cultural values. Provisions within the WRP regarding cultural values have been assessed within Section 9 of the Overarching AEE. 7.6.1.1 National Directions Objective 3.A.1 of the WRP reflects the directions set out in clause 3.26(1) of the NPSFM. Specifically, it seeks to ensure fish passage is maintained or improved by instream structures, except where it is desirable to prevent fish passage in order to protect desired fish species, their life stages, or their habitats. As described in Section 5.7, the preliminary designs for all instream structures provides for fish passage as appropriate for the species (shortfin eel) present in TB1. Conditions of consent will ensure these key design requirements carry through into detailed design. Policy 3.A.3 builds on Policy 7 of the NPSFM. Specifically, the policy seeks to avoid the loss of river extent and values unless the council is satisfied that: that there is a functional need for the activity in that location;73 and 73 Policy 3.A.3(a), Waikato Regional Plan.
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