SECTION 1 Introduction 1 1. Introduction 1.1 Background Oceana Gold (New Zealand) Limited (OGNZL) is applying for resource consents for the Waihi North Project (WNP). This project has a number of associated elements that are necessary to enable access to the Wharekirauponga Underground (WUG) mineral resource. The WUG resource is located approximately 11 km north of the township of Waihi. The resource lies within the Wharekirauponga Minerals Mining Permit (60541) area and is beneath Department of Conservation (DOC) land. 1.2 Project Description A full description of the Waihi North Project is provided in the Assessment of Environmental Effects prepared by Mitchell Daysh Limited. The elements relevant to this assessment are described below and locations shown in Figure 1. These will include the following. A tunnel to transport ore to Waihi that connects with the Willows Farm site (WUG access tunnel) that will include; • Portal and a single tunnel (WUG access tunnel) near the Processing Plant, that connects with the dual tunnel (4,700m length); • A link or bypass drive that connects the tunnel from the Willows Farm portal (Willows access tunnel) to WUG access tunnel from Waihi (270m length); and • Stockpiles at 150m spacing along the length of tunnel and sumps (every 640m). The Willows Farm access tunnel will include: • Portal and a single tunnel (Willows access tunnel) at Willows Farm to the edge of DOC land (1,300m length); • Vent shaft on the Willows Farm south of the DOC boundary (250m deep); • Stockpiles at 150m spacing along the length of tunnel and sumps (every 640m); and • Surface infrastructure including; waste rock stacks, silt ponds, etc. Dual decline tunnels to access the orebody from Willow Farm to WUG that will include: • Dual tunnel from the edge of DOC land to the footwall of the WUG orebody (5,500m length); • Multiple declines as the dual tunnel approaches the top of the WUG, for access to the lower portions of the orebody (500 – 1,200m length); • Cross cuts at 150m spacing along the length of the dual tunnel, providing a connection between the intake and exhaust tunnels (1,000m length); • Cuddies to cater for infrastructure requirements including ventilation, sumps, pumps, and electrical equipment (200m length); and • Four ventilation shafts of various depths along the paper road corridor at the tunnel approach to the WKP development works.
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