U:\2021\BM210482_IBo_Waihi_North_Project\Documents\WNP_Freshwater_Report_May_2022\FINAL_Freshwater_Report_FOR DELIVERY_June 2022\FINAL DELIVERED 17 JUNE 2022\WAI-985-000-REP-LC-0007_Rev0_Freshwater_20220621_FINAL.docx 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background The current Waihi life of mine plan (LoMP) including Project Martha, is to complete production by the end of 2030. Study work conducted between 2016 and 2020 identified opportunities to expand the Waihi operation with one new open pit, Gladstone Open Pit (GOP), and one new underground development (Wharekirauponga Underground Mine or WUG). OceanaGold New Zealand Limited (OGNZL) has engaged Boffa Miskell Limited (BML) to prepare an Assessment of Ecological Effects for the proposed Waihi North Project (WNP, the Project). This report is provided to inform the preparation of the Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE, Mitchell Daysh 2022), and further project details are contained therein. The WNP comprises several elements, including: • a new underground mine and associated facilities (Wharekirauponga Underground Mine or WUG); • a new open pit (Gladstone Open Pit, GOP); • a new tailings storage facility (TSF3); • a new rock stack (the Northern Rock Stack, NRS); • upgrades to the existing Waihi Processing Plant and Water Treatment Plant (WTP); and • Reconsenting of the existing treated water discharge to the Ohinemuri River. BML has worked with OGNZL and the consultant team to provide detailed baseline information about wetland and freshwater ecological values that may be affected by the project, assess the effects of the project on these values and suggest methods for avoiding, where practicable, and minimising impacts on these valuesthroughout the preliminary design process for the project. 1.2 Approach This report describes the site context, ecological survey, assessment methods, ecological values and significance assessment, and the effects of the WNP on the wetland and freshwater ecological values. Our approach utilises the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) impact assessment guidelines (EIANZ 2018) approach to assess ecological values and significance, and to assess the magnitude of the project’s effects on the those ecological values. Criteria for assessing significance also included those contained the Waikato Regional Policy Statement (RPS) (WRC, 2016). Our report describes the assessment of the environmental effects of the project on the: • Wetland and freshwater ecological values of the Wharekirauponga underground mine and associated facilities; • The wetland and freshwater ecological values of the GOP; and • The wetland and freshwater ecological values of TSF3; and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE2NDg3