v or alter the ability of vegetation to propagate and grow. Growth is determined by climatic conditions and the natural soil-water balance in the Regolith. The CGM emphasises that it is the shallow groundwater connections in Rhyolite rocks that are the key mechanism that can result in effects on surface waters. These effects are : - Loss of the warm spring - Stream bed losses through underdrainage - Losses from permeable structure discharges - A reduction in headwater spring flows Of these effects, only the warm spring loss is considered to be a potential effect at this time. The other mechanisms have been assessed and are deemed to be of low risk, however further work to quantity any effect is ongoing. In general terms we consider that the effects from dewatering of the deep groundwater system on the shallow groundwater system can be avoided by mine design and proximity of mining to the surface. Where localised connections do exist, these can be mitigated though grouting in advance of or during the mining process. In order to detect changes as a result of deep dewatering, monitoring of groundwater and surface waters is proposed. The combined surface water and groundwater monitoring will provide a sufficiently robust system that can detect changes in groundwater-surface water interaction and inform mitigation actions if required.
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