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 13 of 79 The recreation report prepared for the WNP (by Greenaway and Associates) notes that there is only one declared back-country track in proximity to the proposed ventilation raises at the orebody site. 2.4 Effects of Noise on Fauna In addition to noise effects on users of conservation areas and wilderness areas, consideration also needs to be given to effects on wildlife. The effects of noise on wildlife is generally a specialist topic. Although extensive international research has been undertaken, primarily in the US relating to aviation noise, it is difficult to study noise effects on wild animals in the natural environment and under natural conditions. Our report does not address the effects of noise on fauna. However, the ecological reports prepared for the WNP by Boffa Miskell and Bioresearches make some expert comment about such noise effects on ecology. 2.5 WUG Helicopter Noise The WUG operation is unique in the overall WNP proposal because it is the only aspect that will require the use of helicopters, which will be used to access the remote vent raise sites. Because helicopters are to be routinely used only during the construction phase, they are subject to the construction noise standards of Section 2.2.2. However, in general noise from helicopters is also assessed in a different manner to other sources associated with the project. This is because helicopters normally involve a short duration, intermittent noise event which is quite different to typical environmental noise sources which are much more continuous and consistent in noise level. For this reason, noise from helicopters is commonly assessed in accordance with New Zealand Standard NZS 6807:1994 “Noise Management and Land Use Planning for Helicopter Landing Areas”. Whilst not used for this assessment, it gives useful guidance as to what are generally acceptable noise levels for normal helicopter operations. The Standard sets out limits of acceptability for helicopter noise for a range of receivers. An acceptable limit is defined of 50 dB Ldn (day/night) and 70 dB LAFmax at night for residential and rural receivers There are also currently agreements in place between OGNZL and DOC regarding concessions granted to land in the conservation zone. We understand that only smaller helicopters (for example AS350 ‘Squirrel’ or similar) are likely to depart from a staging area at the former Golden Cross Mine car park or from the Processing Plant (Baxter Road) helipad. From here they will service the vent raise sites in the bush, hovering and lowering/raising supplies and equipment. A helipad for this aircraft is proposed to be constructed over the accommodation and amenities for transportation of personnel to and from the vent raise construction sites. Because helicopters will operate above the conservation land, special consideration of their noise effects is required, in terms of potential effects that may occur on recreational users. The noise level emissions we predict can also be used to inform the effects assessment (by others) on fauna in the conservation land.
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