Oparara Arches Project Assessment of Environmental Effects Richard Nichol Ecology Oparara Arches Project Assessment of Environmental Effects Prepared By Richard Nichol Ecology Richard Nichol 193 Palmerston St Senior Ecologist Westport 7825 New Zealand Email: [email protected] Mobile: +64 21 538 646 Date: 2 April 2020 (final edit) Reviewed By Dr Gary Bramley The Ecology Company Principal Ecologist Email: [email protected] Mobile: +64 21 403 386 Contents Executive Summary 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 2 Scope of this assessment .................................................................................... 2 3 Description of the Environment ......................................................................... 3 3.1 Existing Environment ....................................................................................................... 3 3.1.1 Geology .............................................................................................................................. 3 3.1.2 Vegetation ...................................................................................................................... 5 3.1.3 Fauna ............................................................................................................................. 6 3.1.4 Threatened Environment Classification ........................................................................ 7 4 Statutory Framework ......................................................................................... 8 5 Methodology .................................................................................................... 10 5.1 Vegetation ....................................................................................................................... 10 5.2 Birds ................................................................................................................................ 10 5.3 Snails ............................................................................................................................... 10 5.4 Freshwater fish ................................................................................................................. 11 5.5 Lizards .............................................................................................................................. 11 5.6 Bats ................................................................................................................................... 11 5.7 Assessment of Effects ...................................................................................................... 12 6 Ecological Values .............................................................................................. 13 6.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 13 6.2 Vegetation ....................................................................................................................... 13 6.3 Birds ................................................................................................................................ 14 6.4 Snails ............................................................................................................................... 17 6.5 Freshwater fish ................................................................................................................ 17 Oparara AEE April 2020 Richard Nichol Ecology 6.6 Lizards ............................................................................................................................. 19 6.7 Bats .................................................................................................................................. 19 7 Honeycomb Caves Monitoring system .............................................................. 20 7.1 Background and nature of proposal................................................................................ 20 7.2 Outline of the proposed security system ......................................................................... 21 7.3 Anticipated effects of the Security System Installation and Maintenance ..................... 21 8 Box Canyon Carpark Toilet ............................................................................... 22 8.1 Background and nature of proposed toilet upgrade. ...................................................... 22 8.2 Existing Environment ..................................................................................................... 25 8.3 Anticipated effects of the proposed construction ........................................................... 26 8.3.1 Effect on Vegetation ..................................................................................................... 26 8.3.2 Effect on Powelliphanta snails ..................................................................................... 26 8.3.3 Effect on Great Spotted Kiwi (Apteryx haastii)........................................................... 27 8.3.4 Potential effect on lizards............................................................................................. 27 8.3.5 Effect on freshwater biota ............................................................................................ 28 8.4 Recommended Mitigation .............................................................................................. 28 8.4.1 Mitigation for vegetation ............................................................................................. 28 8.4.2 Mitigation for snails ..................................................................................................... 29 8.4.3 Mitigation for great-spotted kiwi ................................................................................. 29 8.4.4 Recommended mitigation for lizards .......................................................................... 29 8.4.5 Overall level of effects for the proposed toilet block .................................................... 30 8.4.6 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 31 9 Oparara Arch Track Restoration and Upgrade .................................................. 31 9.1 Background and nature of proposed track development................................................ 31 9.2 Existing Environment ..................................................................................................... 36 9.3 Anticipated effects of the proposed track upgrade ......................................................... 43 9.3.1 Effect on Vegetation ..................................................................................................... 43 9.3.2 Effect on birdlife .......................................................................................................... 44 9.3.3 Effect on snails ............................................................................................................. 45 9.3.4 Effect on bats ............................................................................................................... 45 Oparara AEE April 2020 Richard Nichol Ecology 9.3.5 Other anticipated environmental effects: .................................................................... 45 9.4 Recommended Mitigation .............................................................................................. 46 9.4.1 Mitigation for vegetation ............................................................................................. 46 9.4.2 Mitigation for avifauna ................................................................................................ 48 9.4.3 Mitigation for snails ..................................................................................................... 48 9.4.4 Mitigation for bats ....................................................................................................... 49 9.4.5 Mitigation for management of sediments and rock extraction ................................... 49 9.4.6 Overall level of effects for the proposed track upgrade ............................................... 49 9.4.7 Alternative to aspects of the proposed track restoration and upgrade ........................ 51 9.4.8 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 51 10 Mirror Tarn Track Extension ........................................................................... 52 10.1 Background and nature of proposed track extension. .................................................... 52 10.2 Existing Environment ..................................................................................................... 53 10.3 Anticipated effects of the proposed Mirror Tarn Track Extension ................................. 55 10.3.1 Effect on Vegetation ..................................................................................................... 55 10.3.2 Effect on Powelliphanta snails .................................................................................... 56 10.3.3 Effect on birds .............................................................................................................. 57 10.4 Measures to Avoid and Mitigate ..................................................................................... 58 10.4.1 Mitigation for vegetation (including weed control) ....................................................