This document may not be reproduced in full or in part without the written consent of Marshall Day Acoustics Limited Rp 001 R0 20210601 SJP (Waihi North Noise Assessment) ISSUE 7 of 79 1.1 How we have Assessed the Project To assist with interpretation of this report, we outline the following fundamental points on which our assessment is based, many of which relate to project-wide matters. 1.1.1 Our Report has a Geographic Focus The Project Description (refer to the AEE prepared by Mitchell Daysh Limited) document places significant emphasis on development of the WUG. While we do not mean to downplay the significance of the WUG – and indeed have conducted a thorough assessment of related noise emissions – it is relatively minor in terms of the WNP noise emissions. This is because the bulk of works take place underground and in a relatively sparsely populated area, far from the Waihi township. On the other hand, all of the other components of the WNP are also integrated with existing Waihi mining operations. They are also closer to denser population areas and therefore have the potential to create a greater noise impact on a larger number of people. For this reason, much of this report is dedicated to addressing noise in the areas around and east of the Waihi township. 1.1.2 Noise Effects will be Localised to each Project Component For any given receiver it is generally only the component of the project that is closest to them that will have the potential for any noise effects. While we have considered cumulative noise levels from all parts of WNP combined, the separation between themmeans that the components can generally be discussed in isolation. For example, the closest receivers to the NRS will not receive much noise from TSF3 or WUG, etc., so their experience of the WNP noise will be dominated by the NRS. Receivers further from the site will likely receive a broader range of the WNP noise from various components, but the overall level will be much lower by this point. This report therefore presents the noise levels separately for each of the project components, along with a discussion of the highest potential noise impacts on each area. Cumulative noise emissions and overall effects are then addressed subsequently. 1.1.3 Cumulative Noise with other OGNZL Activities is Considered Noise generated from existing consented activities in the area has also been factored into this assessment of the WNP, to ensure a comprehensive assessment of OGNZL’s overall noise emissions. The WNP relies on a large amount of existing infrastructure, such as Processing Plant, conveyors, tailings storage facilities, buildings and services, etc. The project will also occur alongside ongoing consented activities, including the Martha Underground Mine (MUG) and ‘Phase 4’ of the Martha Open Pit mining (MOP4) and TSF1A and 2 works. While these existing aspects are subject to a variety of rules and conditions around noise (as explored in Section 2.0), in reality any concurrent noise emissions from OGNZL operations must be considered holistically in order to adequately assess the potential effects. To this end, we have prepared additional calculations that combine WNP noise levels with a notional level of activity occurring in the Martha pit and associated infrastructure that could represent Phase 4 operations. This is presented in more detail in Section 10.2. 1.1.4 Noise from Construction vs Operational Phases Some short-term activities are assessed as being ‘construction noise’. This means that they are typically subject to higher (i.e. less restrictive) noise limits that reflect the transient nature of the activity and therefore over a shorter timeframe. More detail is given around the applicable noise standards later in this report. This principal is long-established in the existing consenting framework governing Waihi operations and is commonly used to assess noise across the mining and quarrying industries in New Zealand. The following activities are some of those likely to occur across all components of the project and we consider these activities to be defined as construction noise: • Construction of access roads; • Clearance of vegetation and topsoil from worksites and stockpile footprints; • Excavation of unsuitable materials and backfilling of the excavations where necessary; • Construction of clean and dirty water drains, underdrains, and collection ponds as required; • Construction of offices, workshops and all related surface facilities at Willows Road, and the services trench linking these with the existing operations at Baxter Road; • Upgrades to the Processing and Water Treatment Plants; and • Deconstruction works on closure of the facilities, e.g. removal of infrastructure and earthworks, and rehabilitation for future land use. Based on advice from the mining experts, beyond these general activities, there are individual components of the project that should also be defined as construction, and these are described in Section 4.1. Both the NRS and Willows Rock Stack (WRS) will be constructed in stages. Only the initial stages are considered as construction activities. The construction period ends with completion of the first development stage and the first placement of rock fill onto the liners. All subsequent works will need to comply with the operational noise limits. 1.1.5 Blasting and Vibration are Considered Elsewhere These topics are not considered in our assessment and have instead been addressed in the work of Heilig and Partners.
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