B-1 - Area 1, Coromandel Forest Park – Assessment of Environmental Effects 69 The Ecology Company report assesses that the Waihi North Biodiversity Project is large enough that a variety of biodiversity benefits would accrue for a range of species and habitats typical of the Waihi Ecological District and southern Coromandel generally. 5.2.4 Conclusion The CFP comprises approximately 71, 900 ha of continuous native forest. Through careful design the surface works within the CFP have been limited to up to four ventilation raises, requiring a maximum clearance area of 12 x 12m each (i.e. 0.0576ha in total). A range of measures to avoid, remedy, mitigate or offset the effects of that disturbance are proposed. For the site establishment works they are based on the measures DOC has required OGNZL to apply when establishing its various exploration drilling sites in this area which have been proven effective in protecting the values of the environment. Work commissioned by OGNZL for this project means the best estimate for the total Coromandel Archey’s frog population is 54.8 million frogs. This is substantially greater than original assumptions of population size of between 5,000 -20,000 mature individuals for the national population. When mining commences there is a low (but uncertain) risk for this project to generate residual adverse effects on Archey’s frogs within the 314 ha area exposed to vibrations greater than 2 mm/s, or the area potentially exposed to vent discharges. To offset those potential effects a range of proposed enhancements to frog habitat are proposed which will mean the WNP will ultimately provide for a net benefit to Archey’s frogs In addition, the Waihi North Biodiversity Project represents an opportunity to provide major long term (inter-generational) ecological benefits to the wider CFP area. 5.3 DEWATERING EFFECTS The WUG and Dual Tunnels are located beneath DOC land and are in surface water catchments that are identified as ‘natural state’ in the WRP. Because of this, groundwatersurface water interaction has been very carefully considered for this project. Central to this is OGNZL committing to, and proffering a condition of consent which requires it to, manage its mining activities within the CFP so they: do not cause any measurable changes in the natural flows or water quality in any surface water body.13 13 The exception are changes caused by changes in the flow of a warm spring above WUG which are unavoidable. These are described further below.
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