IN THE MATTER OF The Resource Management Act 1991 AND IN THE MATTER OF applications for resource consents in relation to Te Ahu a Turanga; Manawatū Tararua Highway Project BY NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT AGENCY Applicant TE AHU A TURANGA: TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT F TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY TAT-0-EV-06001-CO-RP-0005 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 3 SUMMARY AND KEY CONCLUSIONS ................................................................. 11 REPORT STRUCTURE ......................................................................................... 14 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................... 15 SITE DESCRIPTION (TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY OVERVIEW) .......................... 15 ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS METHODOLOGY .................................................. 18 TERRESTRIAL AND WETLAND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS ................ 27 ASSESSMENT OF 'ECOLOGICAL VALUES' ........................................................ 37 ASSESSMENT OF STATUTORY SIGNIFICANCE OF TERRESTRIAL HABITATS ............................................................................................................................... 54 MAGNITUDE OF EFFECTS' ASSESSMENT ........................................................ 58 MEASURES TO ADDRESS RESIDUAL EFFECTS THAT CANNOT BE AVOIDED OR MINIMISED .................................................................................................... 101 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION ......................................................................... 111 APPENDIX F.1: ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS ON BATS .................................. 113 APPENDIX F.2: ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS ON TERRESTRIAL INVERTEBRATES ............................................................................................... 114 APPENDIX F.3: VEGETATION SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS..... 115 APPENDIX F.4: AVIFAUNA SURVEY METHODOLOGY .................................... 140 (REFER TO TABLE F.6.2 IN APPENDIX F.6 FOR RESULTS) ........................... 140 APPENDIX F.5: ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES ............. 141 APPENDIX F.6: TERRESTRIAL AND WETLAND ECOLOGICAL VALUES ....... 146 APPENDIX F.7: PHOTOGRAPHIC EXAMPLES OF KEY CHANGES IN HABITAT CLASSIFICATIONS FROM NOR ASSESSMENT ............................................... 158 TAT-0-EV-06001-CO-RP-0005 Page 2 INTRODUCTION 1. My name is Matthew James Baber. I hold the position of Principal Ecologist/ Director at Alliance Ecology Ltd, which I have held since May 2019. I also hold the position of independent contractor for Tonkin + Taylor Ltd ("T+T"). Qualifications and experience 2. My previous employment and associated positions include: (a) Tonkin + Taylor (2011 - 2019) (i) Technical Director/Project Director (Ecology) (2019) (ii) Discipline Manager (Ecology)/Principal Ecologist (2017-2018) (iii) Team Leader Ecology/Principal Ecologist (2016) (iv) Principal Ecologist (2014 - 2015) (v) Senior Ecologist (2011 - 2014) (b) Auckland Council (2010 - 2011): Team Leader Biodiversity (c) Auckland Regional Council (2007 - 2010): Natural Heritage Scientist (d) Ecovision (2004 - 2007): Ecologist/Director (e) Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of New Hampshire (2001 - 2004). 3. I hold the qualifications of Bachelor of Science (Zoology) from Otago University, Master of Science (Hons) (Conservation Ecology) from Auckland University, and Doctor of Philosophy (Ecology) from Florida International University (Miami, Florida, USA). 4. I have completed the Ministry for the Environment Making Good Decisions course (September 2019) and have been certified as an Independent Hearing Commissioner. 5. I am on the approved panel of technical expert service providers for the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) as a provider of technical services (in terrestrial ecology) for the assessment of resource consent applications lodged with the EPA or called in by the Minister. TAT-0-EV-06001-CO-RP-0005 6. I am a member of the New Zealand Ecological Society, the Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) and I am a Department of Conservation permitted herpetologist. 7. I have 19 years' experience as a professional ecologist. My work experience includes assessments of environmental effects; input into statutory and non -statutory policies, plans, and strategies; and the design and implementation of mitigation/biodiversity offset packages, ecological restoration initiatives, and biodiversity research and monitoring programmes. I have worked in a variety of forest, riparian, wetland, and coastal ecosystem types and on a diversity of taxa in New Zealand and abroad. I have authored more than 20 international and national peer-reviewed scientific publications and numerous technical reports on the above subject matters. I have led or been involved in the assessment of ecological effects for a number of large infra-structure projects including appearance as an expert witness for various council hearings, environment court hearings and a Board of Inquiry. Specifically, I have: (a) Appeared as the expert witness on behalf of Auckland Council for the Onehunga Foreshore Rehabilitation Hearings on terrestrial ecology and coastal bird matters (2011); (b) Appeared as the expert witness for the Department of Conservation on terrestrial ecology and coastal bird matters for the Transmission Gully Motorway Board of Inquiry (2011); (c) Appeared as the expert witness for the Department of Conservation on terrestrial, wetland and freshwater ecology (excluding long-tailed bats) for the joint hearing for the Hamilton Section of the Waikato Expressway Resource Consent Application and the East-West Tamahere Link Notice of Requirement ("NOR") and for the Southern Links Section of the Waikato Expressway Resource Consent application (2014); (d) Appeared as an expert witness on behalf of the West Coast Regional Council and Buller District Council on terrestrial ecology matters for the Mt William North mine (Solid Energy) hearing (2014); (e) Appeared as an expert witness before Council Hearings and Environment Court in relation to consent applications for quarrying and TAT-0-EV-06001-CO-RP-0005 Page 4 residential developments in terrestrial and coastal environments (Various); (f) Led the assessment of ecological effects on the terrestrial and wetland ecology components of the Huntly Section of the Waikato Expressway on behalf of the New Zealand Transport Agency (2014); (g) Led the development and implementation of ecological management plans for Puhoi to Warkworth Road of National Significance for NX2 on behalf of the New Zealand Transport Agency (2015 - 2016); (h) Led the ecology inputs during the Multi-Criteria Assessment ("MCA") phase for the Mt Messenger SH3 Project (2017) on behalf of the New Zealand Transport Agency; (i) Led the terrestrial ecology inputs for the assessment of effects for the Auckland Regional Landfill Project for Waste Management New Zealand, including the development of offsetting and compensation models (2019 - ongoing); (j) Led and managed ecological input into the resource consent process, policy review, and the development and implementation of biodiversity management initiatives for Auckland Council (2010 - 2011); and (k) Co-authored the Peacocke's Structure Plan Area Effects Management Framework for Hamilton City Council, which includes the application of offset and compensation models. 8. I have provided advice on terrestrial ecology matters related to the proposed Te Ahu a Turanga Project ("the Project") to the Alliance, and ultimately the NZ Transport Agency, since January 2020. 9. My contributions include: (a) Preparing an assessment of the Project's effects on terrestrial vegetation and fauna based on the now-proposed alignment and level of design; and (b) Assistance with the preparation and review of the Ecological Management Plan ("EMP") proposed for the Project, which includes the following subsidiary plans: Vegetation Clearance Management Plan, Lizard Management Plan, Avifauna Management Plan, and Residual Effects Management Plan. TAT-0-EV-06001-CO-RP-0005 Page 5 Code of conduct 10. I confirm that I have read the Code of Conduct for expert witnesses contained in the Environment Court Practice Note 2014. This assessment has been prepared in compliance with that Code, as if it were evidence being given in Environment Court proceedings. In particular, unless I state otherwise, this assessment is within my area of expertise and I have not omitted to consider material facts known to me that might alter or detract from the opinions I express. Purpose and scope of assessment 11. The purpose of this evidence is to assess the effects of the Project on terrestrial and wetland habitat types and associated flora and fauna to inform the resource consent applications for the Project 'main works' as detailed in the Design Construction Report ("DCR") (provided in Volume II of the application materials). This includes: (a) Characterisation and assessment of terrestrial and wetland habitat types and associated flora and fauna within the Project 'main works' footprint and immediate surrounds; (b) An assessment of the potential for adverse effects on vegetation/habitat types, bird and lizard values after measures to avoid or minimise adverse effects have been undertaken; and (c) Provision of proposed habitat restoration and enhancement measures for addressing residual effects that cannot be avoided or minimised. 12. In undertaking this