46 Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project | Terrestrial Ecology Values and Effects of the WUG | 22 June 2022 6.0 Actual and Potential Ecological Effects 6.1 Proposed Works and Associated Effects The potential adverse ecological effects of the WUG are associated with both construction and operational activities. Broadly, the construction phase includes all site works at Willows Road farm and construction of the access tunnels (i.e. drilling and blasting that advances toward the resource). The operational phase includes ongoing activities associated with underground mining such as drilling and blasting to access and recover the resource (localised around the orebody) and associated sustained air discharges and noise and vibration effects. The operational phase of underground mining is longer in duration (the life of mine is expected to be approximately 10 years) and activities may be concentrated in particular areas. The assessment of potential ecological effects includes: • Overview of fauna responses to indirect effects. • Potential effects associated with works around Willows Road Farm. • Localised potential effects in Coromandel Forest Park - primarily those associated with construction and operation of the four vent raises. • Potential long-term or widespread effects in Coromandel Forest Park - these potential effects are typically more uncertain, long-term (if realised) and / or widespread (beyond specific vent raise areas). A brief statement of the management response for each effect is provided following the effect description. 6.2 Review of Potential Fauna Responses to Non-Lethal Disturbance and Stressors 6.2.1 Overview Fauna responses to non-lethal stressors (for this assessment, these are noise and vibration) may include heightened stress (and potential loss of condition as a consequence), avoidance behaviours, altered behaviour (e.g. change in volume or pitch of bird calls, reduced emergence) and reduced / failed reproduction. The ability to move away from these stressors varies between individuals, species, and factors like mobility, habitat requirements, exposure to predators, reproductive state and dormancy / torpor (if applicable). The section below briefly describes potential behavioural responses by fauna groups to key stressors (noise and vibration) arising from the proposed mining operation. We note that fauna responses to these environmental effects are understudied, particularly in the New Zealand situation, and our assessment reflects the available literature.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE2NDg3