Access Arrangement Application
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Application for Access to Undertake Opencast Coal Mining and Related Activities on Public Conservation Land 18 December 2013 1 Prepared For Te Kuha Limited Partnership Prepared By BTW South Ltd Unit 7 Cromtrade 2 McNulty Road PO Box 302 Cromwell 9342 Tel +64 3 445 9905 Fax +64 3 445 0194 18 December 2013 © BTW South Ltd 2013 The information contained in this document produced by BTW South Limited is solely for the use of the Client identified on the cover sheet for the purpose for which it has been prepared and BTW South Ltd takes no duty to or accepts any responsibility to any third party who may rely upon this document. All rights reserved. No parts of sections of this document may be removed from this document, reproduced, electronically stored or transmitted in any form without the written permission of BTW South Ltd. 2 Quality Information Document: DOC Access Agreement Application File Reference: L:\S12073 - Stevenson Mining - Te Kuha Coal Date: 15 November 2013 Revision History Authorised Revision Revision Date Details Name Signature 3 18/12/2013 Review Version 3 Document Kate Scott Client Review Authorised Revision Revision Date Details Name Signature CC; MC; AB; 2 11/2013 Review Version 2 Document JP 3 11/12/2013 Review Version 3 Document CC;MC;AB; JP 3 Contents 1. Introduction...........................................................................................................................6 1.1. Purpose of Document ............................................................................................................6 1.2. Background............................................................................................................................ 6 1.3. Project Description................................................................................................................. 7 1.4. Outline of Proposal ................................................................................................................ 7 2. Description of Existing Environment .......................................................................................8 2.1. Site Location, Topography and Land Use ................................................................................ 8 2.1.1. Regional Context.................................................................................................................. 13 2.1.2. District Context .................................................................................................................... 13 2.2. Soils ..................................................................................................................................... 14 2.3. Geology................................................................................................................................ 15 2.4. Existing Hydrogeology.......................................................................................................... 16 2.4.1 Surface Water ...................................................................................................................... 16 2.4.2 Groundwater ....................................................................................................................... 18 2.5. Climate ................................................................................................................................ 18 2.6. Vegetation and Wildlife........................................................................................................ 19 2.6.1 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................... 19 2.6.1.1 Threatened and At Risk Vascular Flora .................................................................................. 26 2.6.1.2 Bryophytes............................................................................................................................ 26 2.6.1.3 Rare Ecosystem Types........................................................................................................... 29 2.6.2 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................ 30 2.6.2.1 Birds ..................................................................................................................................... 30 2.6.1.3 Herpetofauna ....................................................................................................................... 33 2.6.1.4 Bats ...................................................................................................................................... 34 2.6.1.5 Invertebrates ........................................................................................................................ 34 2.6.1.6 Other Fauna.......................................................................................................................... 35 2.6.1.7 Fish....................................................................................................................................... 35 2.6.1.8 Habitat .................................................................................................................................36 2.7 Landscape............................................................................................................................ 37 2.8 Social Context ...................................................................................................................... 42 2.8.1 Maori Context ...................................................................................................................... 42 2.8.2 European Context................................................................................................................. 43 2.8.2.1 Gold Mining .......................................................................................................................... 43 2.8.2.2 Coal Mining........................................................................................................................... 44 4 2.8.2.3 Present Day Coal Mining ....................................................................................................... 46 3. Description of Proposed Activities ........................................................................................47 3.1 Overview of Activities ................................................................................................................. 47 3.2 Proposed Timeframes and Duration............................................................................................ 50 3.3 Access......................................................................................................................................... 50 3.4 Services ...................................................................................................................................... 54 3.5 Accommodation ......................................................................................................................... 54 3.6 Surface Structures ...................................................................................................................... 54 3.7 Water Management ................................................................................................................... 54 3.7.1. Changes to Hydrogeology as a result of Mining....................................................................... 54 3.7.2 Water Use................................................................................................................................ 55 3.7.3 Wastewater Disposal ............................................................................................................... 56 3.8 Mine Sequencing ........................................................................................................................ 58 3.9 Waste Processing........................................................................................................................ 60 3.10 Consents................................................................................................................................... 61 4. Statutory Context and Non-statutory Provisions ...................................................................61 5. Assessment of Environmental Effects ...................................................................................65 5.1 Landscape Effects ....................................................................................................................... 65 5.2 Nature and Conservation Values and Biodiversity ....................................................................... 78 5.3 Effects on Aquatic Ecosystems .................................................................................................... 89 5.3.1 Effects on stream habitat, flora and fauna ............................................................................... 90 5.3.2 Effects on tarns........................................................................................................................ 91 5.3.3 Effects of sediment addition .................................................................................................... 91 5.3.4 Effects of Site Access................................................................................................................ 92 5.3.5 Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................