3-AD006.00 SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT WAIHI NORTH PROJECT Oceana Gold New Zealand Limited WSP June 2022 51 6.3 ENVIRONMENT 6.3.1 IMPACT ON QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT – TRAFFIC The WNP will result in increased traffic movements during the construction and operational phases. The Transportation Assessment (Stantec, 2022) identified that increased traffic movement will occur at the two existing mine access points, at Baxter Road and Kenny Street, and on Willows Road: • Baxter Road: main vehicular access (gated) to the mine processing area. • Kenny Street: vehicular access (gated) to the Martha Pit. • Willows Road: main vehicular access to the proposed surface infrastructure and entrance to the WUG at Willows Road Farm. The Baxter Road and Kenny Street access points are existing and located within Waihi town centre, as such, implications on the amenity value of the social environment are considered negligible and are therefore not considered. During engagement, those that live and or work in Waihi that responded to the Maptionnaire survey were asked to respond to the extent to which traffic movements was a current effect of mining, and the extent to which they perceived it would be an effect of the proposed project. Traffic movement was identified as the most significant concern associated with the proposed WNP with: • Current traffic movement: 40% of respondent’s identified that traffic movement has a negative effect (8% major effect, 32% minor effect) with 53% indicating no effect. • Proposed traffic movement: 71% of respondent’s identified that traffic movement would be a negative effect (22% major effect, 49% minor effect) with 25% indicating no effect in relation to the proposed WNP. In addition, respondents to the Maptionnaire survey were asked to indicate their level of concern associated with increase traffic volumes on Willows Road and Baxter Road. In respect of Baxter Road, 60% of respondents felt there would be no effect (neither positive of negative) from an increase in traffic volume, the remaining 40% stated they anticipated a negative effect. An increase in traffic volumes on Willows Road was identified by 74% of respondents as likely to have no effect (neither positive or negative), with the remaining 24% of respondents as likely to have a negative effect on them, and 2% anticipating a potential positive effect. The current average daily traffic volume for Willows Road is 81 veh/day over the first 300 m (up to the Highland Road intersection), of which heavy commercial vehicles comprise 6%, reducing beyond Highland Road to 48 veh/day of which 10% are heavy commercial vehicles. Willows Road is located outside of Waihi town centre, in a rural environment. Numerous residents use Willows Road to access their properties on Willows Road and Highland Road. A general theme raised during engagement with the Willows Road affected by proximity residents was the potential for increased traffic to change the overall amenity of their environment. The increase in traffic volumes and heavy vehicle movements on Willows Road has the potential to reduce residential amenity on Willows Road.
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