NZ Windfarms Ltd. Te Rere Hau Wind Farm Eastern Extension ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS NZ WINDFARMS LTD - TE RERE HAU EASTERN EXTENSION – ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary.................................................................................................................................1 1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................3 1.1 Project Outline..........................................................................................................................3 1.2 Methodology.............................................................................................................................5 1.2.1 Existing Literature Review.......................................................................................................5 1.2.2 Botanical Surveys & Assessment...........................................................................................5 1.2.3 Avifauna Surveys.....................................................................................................................5 1.2.4 Bats...........................................................................................................................................6 1.2.5 Aquatic Biota Habitats .............................................................................................................6 1.2.6 Herpetofauna and Terrestrial Invertebrates ...........................................................................6 1.2.7 Ecological Sensitivity Assessment..........................................................................................6 2 Description of Existing Natural Features .............................................................................8 2.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................................8 2.1.1 Ecological Context ...................................................................................................................8 2.1.2 Landforms ................................................................................................................................8 2.1.3 Climate .....................................................................................................................................8 2.2 Indigenous Vegetation Communities within the Wind Farm Locality....................................8 2.3 Turbine Sites and Access Roads within Remnant Indigenous Vegetation ........................12 2.4 Avifauna..................................................................................................................................13 2.4.1 Existing Records ....................................................................................................................13 2.4.2 Pasture and Bush Habitats....................................................................................................13 2.4.3 Vagrant and Occasional Users .............................................................................................14 2.5 Bats.........................................................................................................................................16 2.6 Freshwater Aquatic Biota ......................................................................................................17 2.6.1 Stream Morphology & Catchment Description.....................................................................17 2.6.2 Macroinvertebrates................................................................................................................17 2.6.3 Freshwater Fish .....................................................................................................................18 2.7 Other Indigenous Fauna........................................................................................................19 2.7.1 Reptiles...................................................................................................................................19 2.7.2 Frogs.......................................................................................................................................20 2.7.3 Terrestrial Invertebrates.........................................................................................................20 2.8 Introduced Mammals.............................................................................................................20 3 Ecological Significance Assessment .................................................................................20 3.1.1 Identifying the Ecological “Hotspot Spots”............................................................................20 3.2 Aquatic Biodiversity................................................................................................................22 3.3 Threatened Flora and Fauna within the Study Area............................................................23 3.3.1 Plants......................................................................................................................................23 3.3.2 Fauna .....................................................................................................................................23 4 Assessment of Ecological Effects......................................................................................25 4.1 Summary of Potential Ecological Effects..............................................................................25 4.2 Effects on Indigenous Vegetation .........................................................................................25 4.2.1 Turbine Platform, Transmission Line & Access Road Construction ...................................25 4.2.2 Seepage Zones and Wetlands .............................................................................................26 4.2.3 Post-construction Invasion of Exotic Weeds ........................................................................27 4.3 Summary of Potential Effects on Key Fauna Species & their Habitats ..............................27 4.4 Avifauna..................................................................................................................................30 4.4.1 Construction Effects...............................................................................................................30 4.4.2 Operational Effects ................................................................................................................30 4.4.3 Effects on Bats .......................................................................................................................34 4.5 Aquatic Biota ..........................................................................................................................34 4.5.1 Excavation Fill Zones.............................................................................................................34 4.5.2 Sediment Runoff during Construction...................................................................................34 4.5.3 Fill Disposal Sites...................................................................................................................35 4.5.4 Proposed Stream and Seep Crossings................................................................................35 4.6 Other Fauna...........................................................................................................................35 4.6.1 Herpetofauna and Terrestrial Invertebrates .........................................................................35 4.7 Animal Pest Dispersal ...........................................................................................................36 © Kessels & Associates Ltd FINAL 260509 NZ WINDFARMS LTD - TE RERE HAU EASTERN EXTENSION – ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS 5 Conclusions and Recommended Amelioration Measures................................................36 5.1 Key Findings ..........................................................................................................................36 5.2 Summary of Potential Ecological Effects..............................................................................36 5.3 Recommendations for Further Pre-Construction Monitoring ..............................................37 5.4 Avoidance, Remediation & Mitigation Recommendations ..................................................38 5.5 Environmental Management Plan & Post-Monitoring Requirements .................................38 6 Bibliography and References.............................................................................................40 Appendix I Flora Species List Appendix II Habitat Maps Appendix III Threatened Species List Version: FINAL: 26 May 2009 Prepared by: Gerry Kessels, Britta Deichmann, Ingrid Stirnemann & Rebecca Stirnemann Reviewed by: Gerry Kessels Approved by: Ali van Polanen (NZ Windfarms Ltd), Jane Anderson (Plannit Associates) This document and its contents is the property of Kessels & Associates Limited. Any unauthorised employment or reproduction, in full or in part, in any format, is forbidden. All photographs are the property of Kessels & Associates Limited unless otherwise stated. © Kessels & Associates Ltd 2009 www.kessels-ecology.co.nz Document Ref: ... \\Server\server files\NZ Windfarms Ltd\AEE Report: NZ Windfarms Ecology full AEE FINAL 260509 © Kessels & Associates Ltd FINAL 260509 NZ WINDFARMS LTD - TE