Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project | Terrestrial Ecology Values and Effects of the WUG | 22 June 2022 13 species (as evidenced by generally poor records) and the known range of many of these species has not been thoroughly surveyed. Whilst the presence of some invertebrate species may indicate intact forest ecosystems, there are no well-established indices that signify terrestrial macroinvertebrate species or community values or their sensitivity to disturbance. Robust macroinvertebrate community data is timeconsuming and difficult to collect and meaningfully analyse, and a particular consideration for this site is that sampling methods may endanger other forest species (i.e. risk of native frogs or lizards falling into pitfall traps). DOC has provided a list of invertebrate taxa that may act as ‘general indicators of forest health4’, and we comment on observations of these in the absence of more specific data where relevant. Where site-specific ecological data was unavailable (i.e. for cryptic fauna or flora), we draw on records from surveys undertaken within the wider Wharekirauponga catchment (Section 4.2). Whilst the paper road area was not sampled specifically in those surveys, the ecological communities have very similar characteristics, allowing inferences to be drawn where data is unavailable. Further, final vent raise sites have not yet been confirmed and the full range of fauna and vegetation surveys have not been completed. We propose that these surveys are carried out as part of the site selection process (Section 6.4.2) to ensure impacts on fauna and mature vegetation are avoided. Consent to clear and undertake exploration drilling on two of the four proposed vent raise sites may be sought through a separate consent process, but will be subject to the same survey / site selection requirements. 4.2 Existing Wharekirauponga Ecological Data Existing ecological data for the Wharekirauponga area includes survey data collected during ecological surveys to locate potential new exploration drill sites / camp sites / pump sites (undertaken between 2017 – 2021, BML 2018, 2019a, 2021a), and broad-scale baseline ecological surveys carried out in 2019 and 2020 (BML 2019b, BML 2022b (in preparation)). A summary of survey effort and findings of these surveys is provided in Appendix 2. Broadly, repeated ecological surveys of terrestrial and aquatic communities have been undertaken within an approximately 2 km2 area in the Wharekirauponga catchment (Figure 5)5. The purpose of the surveys was to provide a broad-scale biodiversity inventory for the area to document species presence, distribution, and rarity / commonness. The surveys were carried out using standardised, replicable methods that provide baseline ecological data for pre-selected sites. These methods allow for the inventory to be repeated over time to assess change to the vegetation, some fauna species, and freshwater ecological communities in this area. Surveys were designed to enable integration with existing data where possible. Specific assessments of the following habitats, communities and populations included: 4 https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/run-a-project/restoration-advice/bush-restoration/understand-the-bush/whyinvertebrates/ 5 The vegetation and fauna surveys were undertaken within an area of approximately 2 km2 that included the catchments of Adams Stream, Thompsons Stream, Teawaotemutu Stream, Edmonds Stream and the upper reaches of Wharekirauponga Stream. Freshwater surveys were undertaken at two sites on the Teawaotemutu Stream and two sites on the Wharekirauponga Stream, downstream of the public walking track.
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