Waihi North Project: Assessment of Terrestrial Ecological Values & Effects 62138 WNP AEE 31 5.1.2.2 Lizards The AR survey recorded ten ‘At Risk’ copper skinks (Figure 14) around the edges of the pine plantation, restoration plantings and the rock outcrop near where the centre of the proposed pit would be. Six copper skinks were recordedat the rock outcrop and four from the restoration plantings and pine plantation edge. Planted areas provide some understory grass vegetation that provides suitable cover for native lizards in addition to occasional rock deposits (including some within the pine forest) that may have supported small, relict populations of lizards to persist prior to the development of the current vegetation cover. Overall, the vegetation and isolated rock outcrops provide habitat for native copper skinks, which appear to be relatively widespread where habitats provide cover in the Gladstone Pit area. Copper skinks are ‘At Risk’ (Hitchmough et al. 2021), and are of ‘high’ ecological value (Roper-Lindsay et al. 2018). No geckos were recorded from nocturnal VES. Figure 14. Copper skink from proposed Gladstone Pit survey area. 5.1.2.3 Bats The bat survey at Gladstone Open Pit did not record any long-tailed bats. The restoration plantings that would be affected by the Gladstone Open Pit are not mature enough to provide cavities, loose bark and other features that could provide roost habitat for bats (considered to be when growth reaches ≥15 cm DBH (Diameter at Breast Height)). However, the pine trees may have some capacity to support roosts at the time of harvesting (a permitted activity). Given their absence from recent surveys throughout the surrounding area, long-tailed bats are not considered likely to be present within the WNP area, even on an intermittent basis.
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