B-6 – Area 6 – Assessment of Environmental Effects 99 protect and preserve the natural character of wetlands and rivers and their margins from inappropriate use and development;90 maintain or enhance ground water quality and ensure ground water takes are managed to ensure sustainable yield;91 with respect to groundwater takes, do not adversely affect the values of potentially affected surface water bodies;92 with respect to concentrations of contaminants leaching from land use activities and non-point source discharges to shallow ground water and surface waters, not reach levels that present significant risks to human health or aquatic ecosystems;93 and recognise the positive effects of water resource use activities and associated existing lawfully established infrastructure, while avoiding, remedying or mitigating adverse effects on the environment.94 Of particular relevance to this objective: Area 6 forms part of the wider WNP. The WNP project will result in an expansion to OGNZL’s mining operations and will extend the life of the mine for another six years, to at least 2036. The project will generate $626m of additional capital investment, to unlock $3.4b of additional silver and gold exports, 302 additional well-paid jobs directly at the mine and some 1,118 additional indirect jobs among suppliers and the wider community. The additional contribution to the local (Hauraki District) GDP is the equivalent of 24% per year of Hauraki District’s GDP in 2019;95 Sections 5.6 of this AEE describes the water quality effects arising from activities within Area 6. As noted in that assessment;96 o any change in surface water quality in the Ohinemuri River from seepage through the NRS and the collection pond respectively is predicted to be negligible, within the RWQC97 and will not present a risk to human health or aquatic ecosystems; o the diversion of TB1 will capture “clean” surface water from the surrounding catchment and divert it away from the NRS and into the Ohinemuri River. This water will not come into contact with mining activities, therefore the water quality will not be degraded by activities proposed within Area 6; 90 Objective 3.1.2(l), Section 3.1, Waikato Regional Plan. 91 Objective 3.1.2(m), Section 3.1, Waikato Regional Plan. 92 Objective 3.1.2(n), Section 3.1, Waikato Regional Plan. 93 Objective 3.1.2(o), Section 3.1, Waikato Regional Plan. 94 Objective 3.1.2(p), Section 3.1, Waikato Regional Plan. 95 Objective 3.1.2(a), Section 3.1, Waikato Regional Plan. 96 Objective 3.1.2(b) and (o), Section 3.1, Waikato Regional Plan. 97 Note that mercury receiving water quality criterion is lower than available laboratory detection limits.
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