Proposed Wairakei Canopy Tour Assessment Of
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PROPOSED WAIRAKEI CANOPY TOUR ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS Prepared by Roam Consulting for: Sky Play Adventures Limited Issued 16 September 2019 Disclaimer: This document has been prepared using information and data that is sourced from external documents and information from third parties. Where possible, we have attempted to verify the accuracy of this material but accept no responsibility or liability for any inaccuracies or omissions from that material that may affect the accuracy of the assessment or recommendations made in this report. It should not be construed that we have conducted an audit of any of the information used in this report or any of the individuals, companies or organisations consulted during the course of preparing the document. We reserve the right, but are under no obligation, to revise or amend our report if any additional information (particularly as regards the assumptions we have relied upon) which exists on the date of our report but was not drawn to our attention during its preparation, subsequently comes to light. ©Roam Consulting Limited 2019 Initial draft to client issued: 08 September 2019 Final report issued to client: 16 September 2019 Report prepared by: Rowan Sapsford Director Roam Consulting Limited 2 Table of Contents 1 Project Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 7 1.1 Purpose of this Assessment ...................................................................................................... 7 2 Proposed Wairakei Canopy Tour ................................................................................................... 8 2.1 General Description ................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Subject Site and Tenure ...................................................................................................... 10 2.3 Adjacent Environment ......................................................................................................... 12 2.4 Canopy Tour Operation ...................................................................................................... 13 2.5 Details of Development ...................................................................................................... 14 2.5.1 Home Base ....................................................................................................................... 15 2.5.2 Zipline ............................................................................................................................... 16 2.5.3 Tracks ................................................................................................................................. 17 2.5.4 Access and Parking ......................................................................................................... 18 2.6 Construction ........................................................................................................................ 19 2.7 Ecological Enhancement ...................................................................................................... 21 2.7.1 Pest Animal Control ........................................................................................................ 21 2.7.2 Filming .............................................................................................................................. 22 3 History of proposal and other sites considered .......................................................................... 23 3.1 Use of the Huka Falls Scenic Reserve ............................................................................... 25 4 Statutory Assessment ................................................................................................................... 26 4.1 Resource Management Act ................................................................................................ 26 4.1.1 Part II Purpose and Principles ........................................................................................ 26 4.1.2 Section 88 – Making an Application ............................................................................. 29 4.1.3 Section 104 Consideration of Resource Consent Applications ................................. 29 4.1.4 Section 104B: Discretionary Activities ....................................................................... 30 3 4.2 National Policy Statements ............................................................................................... 30 4.3 National Environmental Standards ................................................................................... 30 4.4 Waikato Regional Policy Statement .................................................................................. 32 4.5 Taupō District Plan .............................................................................................................. 33 4.5.1 Objectives and Policies ................................................................................................... 35 4.6 Conservation Act 1987 ...................................................................................................... 36 4.6.1 Section 17S Contents of Application ........................................................................... 36 4.6.2 Section 17T Minister to Consider Applications ............................................................ 37 4.6.3 Section 17Sc Public notification of application for leases, licences, permits, or easements ....................................................................................................................................... 37 4.6.4 Section 17U Matters to be considered by the Minister ......................................... 38 4.6.5 Section 17W Relationship between concessions and conservation management strategies and plans ...................................................................................................................... 40 4.6.6 Section 17X Power of the Minister to impose and enforce conditions ...................... 41 4.6.7 Section 17Y Rents Fees and Royalties .......................................................................... 41 4.6.8 Section 17Z Term of concession .................................................................................... 42 4.7 Taupō / Tongariro Conservation Management Strategy 2002 – 2012. ....................... 42 5 Consideration of other relevant matters .................................................................................... 45 5.1 Ngati Tahu-Ngati Whaoa Iwi Environmental Management Plan .................................. 45 5.1.1 Koiora – Flora and Fauna .............................................................................................. 45 5.1.2 Significant Sites and Wāhi Tapu .................................................................................... 45 5.1.3 Whenua – Land and Land Use ...................................................................................... 46 5.1.4 Wai – Lakes, Rivers, Streams, Wetlands and Aquatic Life ........................................ 46 5.2 Ngati Tuwharetoa Environmental Iwi Management Plan 2003 .................................... 46 6 Assessment of Environmental Effects ....................................................................................... 48 6.1 Positive effects .................................................................................................................... 48 6.1.1 Recreation Opportunities ............................................................................................. 48 4 6.1.2 Tourism and Economic Development .......................................................................... 49 6.1.3 Ecological ........................................................................................................................ 49 6.2 Effects on Landscape and Visual and Natural Character ............................................... 49 6.3 Effects on Traffic and Transport ......................................................................................... 51 6.3.1 Carparking ........................................................................................................................ 51 6.3.2 Vehicle Trips ..................................................................................................................... 52 6.4 Ecological and Conservation Effects ................................................................................. 52 6.5 Noise ..................................................................................................................................... 53 6.6 Cultural Effects .................................................................................................................... 55 6.7 Recreation Effects ............................................................................................................... 55 6.8 Effects Summary ................................................................................................................ 56 7 Consultation and Engagement ..................................................................................................... 57 7.1 Iwi ............................................................................................................................................... 57 7.1.1 Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whaoa ..............................................................................................