3-AD006.00 SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT WAIHI NORTH PROJECT Oceana Gold New Zealand Limited WSP June 2022 31 6.1 WAY OF LIFE 6.1.1 LOSS OF, OR IMPACT ON, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES The WNP will have a direct impact on several community recreational facilities and associated sporting events in Waihi. Targeted interviews were held with the relevant parties during the engagement process in order to understand the potential implications of the project on recreational facilities. The primary facilities and / or events that will be affected are described below. 1 Motocross track The Blackhill Motocross Club manages a motocross track which is located on the side of Black Hill, approximately 3 km east of Waihi town centre. The club is run by a small group of enthusiasts that maintain the facilities using proceeds from the sale of gate keys to access the track. The facility is well supported locally and by those visiting the area, with 364 annual gate keys and 900-day keys sold in 2020 (numbers were lower in 2021 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions). The current access road that leads to the motocross track is located on OGNZL-owned land within the GOP area and will therefore be directly impacted by the construction and operation of the GOP. 2 Mountain bike tracks The Waihi Mountain Bike Club is an informal group of enthusiasts that have developed a 10 km mountain bike (MTB) track located on land owned by OGNZL on Winner and Gladstone Hill, east of Waihi town centre. The track traverses 5 km of Winner Hill and 5 km of Black Hill. There is a small group of local residents that use the track on a weekly basis. The track attracts between 50 to 100 regular users from the local area on a weekend, with number peaking to 200 – 300 people over holiday periods and long weekends when visitors to the area use the facility. This track is used for a number of sporting events that are supported both locally and regionally. The MTB tracks are not only used by bikers, but are also frequented by walkers, dog walkers, and runners. The MTB tracks are administered by Sport ‘n Action Trust. A 5 km section of the 10 km trail will be removed due to the construction and operation of the GOP. 3 Events A popular multisport event in New Zealand, the annual Nugget Multisport Festival, is held annually in Waihi. Approximately 1000 people participate across five events that consist of range of sporting activities including biking, kayaking, trail running, running and walking. All proceeds from the event go to charity. The event attracts participants from the region and beyond, and visitors spend provides a local economic boost to many businesses in Waihi. The Waihi Gold Mine is central to the festival with course routes running alongside mining areas, and one section of the track goes inside the mine operational area. The area around the Pumphouse is a focal point of the festival where all events finish. The mine context makes this an interesting and unique sporting event. The WNP will have a direct impact on the course routes that are used for the events that cross company-owned land. The MTB and 21 km run course will be directly affected by the construction of the NRS, and the MTB tracks on Winner and Gladstone Hill (discussed in item 2 above) that are used for MTB and running courses will be affected by the construction and operation of the GOP.
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