Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project | Terrestrial Ecology Values and Effects of the WUG | 22 June 2022 21 values (Table 3). These must be used in conjunction with a detailed explanation of how scores and evaluations have been derived. Assessment of the level of adverse effect excludes consideration of specific mitigation measures (i.e. it is a ‘raw’, unmitigated, assessment), but does consider whether the effect could be potentially mitigated or remedied. 4.10.2 Magnitude of Effect ‘Effect magnitude’ scores were derived for each of the assessed ecological features based on the works proposed within the relative footprint, and ongoing effects associated with its operation. Level of effect was assessed for each ecological feature and local fauna population (typically, population within the Coromandel Region) using a matrix of ‘effect magnitude’ and ‘ecological value’ rankings. This matrix uses the ecological value assigned to each feature in combination with the magnitude of the effect of project activities on each feature to determine the overall level (i.e. seriousness) of the effect. Table 3 shows how the loss, change or deviation from the existing or baseline ecological quantity and quality conditions can be described in terms of the extent and duration of alteration to describe the magnitude of effect. Note that ‘existing’ and ‘baseline’ conditions may be the same, but they may differ when the existing environment is expected to change before the activity causing an effect takes place. Table 2: EIANZ criteria for describing magnitude of effect (Roper-Lindsay et al., 2018). Magnitude of effect in this table is considered without mitigation. Magnitude Description Very high • Total loss of, or very major alteration to, key elements/features/ of the existing baseline conditions, such that the post-development character, composition and/or attributes will fundamentally change and may be lost from the site altogether; and/or • Loss of a very high proportion of the known population or range of the element/feature High • Major loss or major alteration to key elements/features of the existing baseline conditions such that the post-development character, composition and/or attributes will be fundamentally changed; and/or • Loss of a high proportion of the known population or range of the element/feature Moderate • Loss or alteration to one or more key elements/features of the existing baseline conditions, such that the post-development character, composition and/or attributes will be partially changed; and/or • Loss of a moderate proportion of the known population or range of the element/feature Low • Minor shift away from existing baseline conditions. Change arising from the loss/alteration will be discernible, but underlying character, composition and/or attributes of the existing baseline condition will be similar to predevelopment circumstances or patterns; and/or • Having a minor effect on the known population or range of the element/feature
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