16 Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project | Terrestrial Ecology Values and Effects of the WUG | 22 June 2022 in more detail habitat and plant communities present within potential vent raise sites, including species composition, species diversity and vegetation structure. Final vent raise locations are not confirmed, but detailed vegetation assessments at potential vent raise sites within the paper road provide a robust description of the vegetation communities and enables evaluation of the ecological quality of each of the potential sites. Vegetation descriptions completed to date are provided in Appendix 3, and further surveys are proposed in 2022 - 2023. RECCE plot methodology is the collection of vegetation data within a 20 x 20 m plot. Within each plot, the cover-abundance of all species present is assessed in six standard height tiers (>25 m tall, 12-25 m, 5-12 m, 2-5 m, 30 cm-2 m, <30 cm). Six cover-abundance classes are used (< 1%, 1– 5%, 6–25%, 26–50%, 51–75%, 76–100%). A detailed description of the method is provided in Hurst & Allen (2007). We note that, due to the recent incursion of myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) into New Zealand, all Myrtaceae species which were previously been classified as ‘Not Threatened’ have been elevated to ‘Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable’ or ‘At Risk – Declining’. Myrtle rust is a fungal disease that severely attacks plants in the myrtle family which includes mānuka, kānuka and rātā. Most new classifications of Myrtaceae as Nationally Vulnerable are a precautionary measure due to the unknown impact of myrtle rust on native species. DOC (2018a) notes that the classifications for mānuka, kānuka and common Metrosideros species are Designated (i.e. these abundant and widespread species do not meet standard threat status criteria). Kauri (Agathus australis) has also been recently classified as ‘Threatened- Nationally Vulnerable’ due to the increased spread of kauri dieback (Phytophthora agathidicida, PA) by human and pig (Sus scrofa) movements (Krull et al., 2013). Kauri and Myrtaceae species are commonly encountered throughout the Coromandel Ranges, hence we did not document individual observations of these taxa, but rather looked for evidence of disease when these species were encountered. While we have not documented numbers of kauri observed during surveys in this document, we note that OGNZL has an existing kauri dieback monitoring programme in Wharekiraupongaa that includes mapping and health assessment of kauri. 4.4 Assessment of Terrestrial Invertebrates 4.4.1 Desktop Analysis The desktop assessment for terrestrial macroinvertebrates included a literature review including iNaturalist records from the Coromandel area, and data contained in the Coromandel-Thames SNA report (Waihi ED, (Kessels & Associates, 2010)). Incidental records of conspicuous terrestrial macroinvertebrates, including peripatus / Ngaokeoke (Peripatoides spp), wētā and paua slug (Schizoglossa worthyae), collected during surveys in the Wharekirauponga catchment were reviewed (BML 2018, 2019a, 2019b, 2021). 4.4.2 Surveys No targeted terrestrial macroinvertebrate surveys were carried out as part of this assessment, either on Willows Road Farm, the services trench or within CFP. The invertebrate values assessment for the vent raise areas in CFP, and the CFP on the edge of Willows Road Farm was based on observations of conspicuous invertebrate species recorded during fauna surveys.
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