Waihi North Project: Assessment of Terrestrial Ecological Values & Effects 62138 WNP AEE 69 8 SIGNIFICANCE ASSESSMENT AGAINST WAIKATO REGIONAL POLICY STATEMENT An assessment of the significance of naturally occurring and planted vegetation and habitats within the Waihi North Project (GOP, NRS, TSF3) are provided here, against the Waikato Regional Policy Statement (RPS) criteria for determining significance of indigenous biodiversity (Part B, Chapter 11A). Overall, the significance of these areas of vegetation and habitats is mostly determined by the presence of ‘At Risk’ or ‘Threatened’ lizard and plant species. 8.1 GLADSTONE OPEN PIT The vegetation and habitats at Gladstone Open Pit (the planted vegetation, pine plantation and 14year old restoration area, and an isolated rocky outcrop) trigger significant habitat status on the basis of criterion 3, whereby they support copper skink which has recently been classified as ‘At Risk’ (Hitchmough et al. 2021). Table 11. Assessment of Gladstone Pit vegetation and habitats against RPS (Part B, Chapter 11A) Regional Policy Statement Criteria (Chapter 11A, Table 11-1) Assessment 1 It is indigenous vegetation or habitat for indigenous fauna that is currently, or is recommended to be, set aside by statute or covenant or by the Nature Heritage Fund, or Ngā Whenua Rāhui committees, or the Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust Board of Directors, specifically for the protection of biodiversity, and meets at least one of criteria 3-11. Not significant- Not currently or recommended to be set aside by statute or covenant specifically for the protection of biodiversity. 2 In the Coastal Marine Area, it is indigenous vegetation or habitat for indigenous fauna that has reduced in extent or degraded due to historic or present anthropogenic activity to a level where the ecological sustainability of the ecosystem is threatened. Not significant- Not in the Coastal Marine Area. 3 It is vegetation or habitat that is currently habitat for indigenous species or associations of indigenous species that are: • classed as threatened or at risk, or • endemic to the Waikato region, or • at the limit of their natural range. Significant •Planted and naturally occurring vegetation supports ‘At Risk’ copper skinks. 4 It is indigenous vegetation, habitat or ecosystem type that is underrepresented (20% or less of its known or likely original extent remaining) in an Ecological District, or Ecological Region, or nationally. Not significant- Not significant. Vegetation is largely planted and / or exotic. 5 It is indigenous vegetation or habitat that is, and prior to human settlement was, nationally uncommon such as geothermal, chenier plain, or karst ecosystems, hydrothermal vents or cold seeps. Not significant- ecosystem types are exotic and / or planted, or regenerating 6 It is wetland habitat for indigenous plant communities and/or indigenous fauna communities (excluding exotic rush/pasture communities) that has not been created and subsequently maintained for or in connection with: • waste treatment; • wastewater renovation; • hydro-electric power lakes (excluding Lake Taupō); • water storage for irrigation; or • water supply storage; unless in those instances they meet the criteria in Whaley et al. (1995). Not significant- Not wetland habitat. 7 It is an area of indigenous vegetation or naturally occurring habitat that is large relative to other examples in the Waikato Region of similar habitat types, and which contains all or almost all indigenous species typical of that habitat type. Note this criterion is not intended to select the largest example only in the Waikato region of any habitat type. Not significant- - ecosystem types are small areas of exotic and / or planted, or regenerating vegetation 8 It is aquatic habitat (excluding artificial water bodies, except for those created for the maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity or as mitigation as part Not significant- areas concern terrestrial vegetation
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