Waihi North Project: Assessment of Terrestrial Ecological Values & Effects 62138 WNP AEE 62 6.2.2 Indirect effects Potential indirect effects associated with degradation of surrounding vegetation and habitats are minor on the basis that such vegetation and habitats are relatively young plantings that support low value fauna (common native birds). The western side of SNA 166 would retain areas of plantings where they occur against SNA vegetation. Some low-level habitat fragmentation and isolation may occur for lizards (if present) and birds as a result of loss and reduction of available habitat (8.1 ha planted native, 1 ha pine) and by reducing the ability for common fauna to disperse across the landscape for food, shelter, and breeding purposes. Some of this vegetation currently provides partial connectivity between the northern and southern fragments of SNA 166, however it currently provides limited connectivity value for highly mobile fauna such as birds and the open areas (cattle grazed) already present a barrier for lizard dispersal. Some reduction in habitat availability to local, common native fauna that currently use the vegetation for foraging, roosting or potentially nesting, could cause some level of displacement into surrounding habitats. Given the availability of similar adjacent habitat and the generally poor habitat quality and low value fauna that may use the affected areas of planted vegetation, the effect of such displacement is considered minor. Potential construction and operations related noise and vibrations or dust effects on adjacent vegetation and habitats are considered to be low level effects, given the variously low value vegetation and planted terrestrial habitats and highly mobile nature of the common native and exotic bird species which occur throughout the surrounding landscape. 6.2.3 Recommendations Threatened or At-Risk fauna, including bats and native frogs are not considered to be present, even on an intermittent basis, at present. However, given that long-tailed bats have very large home ranges, and while repeated surveys throughout the WNP area have not recorded bats and they are unlikely to be using the area currently, their flight paths may change over time and therefore preclearance surveys for bats from October 1 to April 31, as per DOC guidelines, should be undertaken as a precautionary management measure, where the mature pine vegetation is removed. If bats are detected, DOC guidelines will inform the pathway forward (monitoring by a competent bat professional until bats leave the roost). While the potentially affected fauna are nationally and locally common species with low ecological value (Roper-Lindsay et al. 2018), such species have legal protection under the Wildlife Act 1953 and measures should be undertaken to avoid and minimise adverse effects on them. Such measures should include careful timing of vegetation removal to avoid the main bird breeding season, and implementation of a lizard management plan that details capture, habitat enhancement and relocation of potentially present native lizards. While the loss of this vegetation is a very low level of effect, and does not require mitigation, the effect could further be reduced to temporary if a similar amount is replanted, attached to the planting nearby. The speed of succession in the remaining revegetation could also be enhanced by enrichment planting of final canopy species.
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