Waihi North Project: Assessment of Terrestrial Ecological Values & Effects 62138 WNP AEE 64 6.3 TAILINGS STORAGE FACILITY 3 The establishment of TSF3 would permanently remove an 8.3 ha area of moderate value rewarewa / treefern and pine forest within the southern SNA 166 fragment. Beyond the SNA, some 1.8 ha of low value vegetation / habitat from three smaller fragments would also be permanently removed. 6.3.1 Direct Effects The affected area avoids the main key elements of the SNA including moko skink habitat and a kauri stand, both on the northern side of the southern fragment. Approximately 3.6 ha of SNA rewarewa forest, and 4.6 ha of SNA treefern scrub (both low value regenerating vegetation), 1.2 ha of low value mixed scrub and pōhutukawa (non-SNA western fragment), 0.4 ha of low value treefern scrub (nonSNA Eastern Fragment) and 0.3 ha low value non-SNA planted vegetation would be removed for construction of the proposed TSF3. There is around 15 ha of treefern scrub and 17 ha of rewarewa scrub in the southern SNA 166 fragment. This means that, locally, the effects of the TSF3 will be to remove around 31% of the treefern scrub and 21% of the rewarewa scrub. At a local level this equates to a moderate magnitude of effect to the rewarewa scrub (a loss of a moderate proportion of the unit, but little difference in composition or character with the loss of the most developed of this unit type in the SNA) and a moderate magnitude of effect for the treefern scrub with a loss of a fair proportion of the unit, but little difference in composition, character, or attributes of the unit. With regard to the treefern scrub, a low value area with a moderate magnitude of effect results in a low level of adverse effect. For the rewarewa scrub, a low value area faced with a moderate magnitude of effect also results in a low level of effect. However, accepting the overall moderate value of SNA 166 as a whole (despite the effect avoiding the features that qualify its significant status), a moderate magnitude of effect results in an overall moderate level of effect, being the permanent removal of 8.3 ha of low value vegetation and habitats (includes 0.1 ha of bare ground) from the 57 ha southern fragment. Where moderate level effects cannot be avoided, a no net loss of biodiversity values is considered to be an appropriate level of mitigation (Roper-Lindsay et al. 2018). We recommend that the adverse effects related to the removal of low value indigenous vegetation in SNA 166 be mitigated in in accordance with principles of best ecological practices for mitigation and biodiversity offsetting in New Zealand to achieve positive biodiversity outcomes and preferably, a Net Environmental Gain. The requirements of a biodiversity offset are detailed in the Ecological Management and Offset Plan. We view the complete loss of the western, eastern and southern fragments adjacent to the SNA as of low magnitude given their character and attributes remain well represented by the remaining SNA 166 features and the wider landscape, although the small fragments themselves are totally removed. In all cases this results in a very low level of effect. Common native fauna that may be within the vegetation at the time of removal would be affected by injury or mortality. Affected fauna may include the eggs and unfledged chicks of common native birds, which have a lower likelihood of escape during vegetation removal and would likely be destroyed if unmanaged. While not recorded, native copper skinks may be present because they are locally common in the surrounding landscape. Moko skink typically inhabit high light-level edge and open environments, and are less likely to be present beneath a vegetated canopy. This species is present on the northern side of SNA 166, and other north-facing vegetated edges beyond the project. There is some low potential for this species to be present, including southern edges where
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