1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND As part of extending the life of the existing mining operations near at Waihi beyond 2030, OceanaGold (New Zealand) Limited (‘OGNZL’) has proposed the Waihi North Project. The Waihi North Project comprises several elements, including: • A new underground mine and associated facilities (The Wharekirauponga Underground Mine or WUG); • A new open pit (Gladstone Open Pit); • A new tailings storage facility (TSF3); • A new rock stack (the Northern Rock Stack); • Upgrades to the existing Waihi Processing Plant; and • Upgrades to the existing Water Treatment Plant and reconsenting of the existing discharge of treated water to the Ohinemuri River. Various technical experts are in the process of preparing assessments of effects to inform the applications for resource consent. OGNZL has applied a standard of engineering design which looks to minimise effects so that the anticipated negative impacts will be small. Where achievable, residual adverse effects will be offset so as to achieve a net gain of biodiversity. The nature of some effects are more difficult to quantify and will require additional (targeted) research in the event consents are granted in order to quantify the offset required. This presents an opportunity to provide a meaningful net gain of biodiversity above and beyond any offsetting requirements. In addition, OGNZL operates under a company ethic of providing for ‘net-gain’ or a clear benefit for areas of environmental risk in the locations that it operates. This provides a unique opportunity for the company to make a meaningful contribution to biodiversity protection and management. There is a range of initiatives that could be undertaken by OGNZL both onsite and off-site that could result in tangible benefits for biodiversity. The purpose of this document is to set out one such potential initiative which is referred to here temporarily as the “Waihi North Biodiversity Project” (‘the Biodiversity Project’) for consultation with partners and stakeholders so that the initiative can be further shaped collaboratively with key stakeholders and partners. The Biodiversity Project constitutes actions that can be considered as “additional conservation actions” which are above and beyond any requirement to avoid, remedy, mitigate or offset the adverse effects of OGNZL’s mining activities as illustrated in Figure 1.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE2NDg3