Oceana Gold (NZ) Ltd - Macraes Gold Project Macraes Phase III Botanical Assessment prepared by Ryder Consulting April 2011 Version: 29/04/2011 3:44 PM Oceana Gold Macraes Gold Phase III Project Botanical assessment: April 2011 2 Oceana Gold (NZ) Ltd - Macraes Gold Project Macraes Phase III Botanical Assessment prepared by Ryder Consulting April 2011 Version: 29/04/2011 3:44 PM Cover photo (M. Dale): Tussock grasslands overlooking the Back Road Rock Stack site. Ryder Consulting Limited PO Box 1023 Dunedin New Zealand Ph: 03 477 2119 Fax: 03 477 3119 Ryder Consulting Oceana Gold Macraes Gold Phase III Project Botanical assessment: April 2011 3 Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................................... 5 2. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Background................................................................................................................................................. 6 2.2 Botanical status........................................................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Vegetation surveys ..................................................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Glossary.................................................................................................................................................... 10 3. Statutory Assessment...................................................................................................................................... 11 3.1 The Resource Management Act ............................................................................................................... 11 3.2 The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy .................................................................................................. 11 3.3 The Statement of National Priorities for Protecting Rare and Threatened Biodiversity on Private Land 12 4. Macraes-Dunback Road realignment ............................................................................................................. 13 4.1 General...................................................................................................................................................... 13 4.2 Current vegetation .................................................................................................................................... 14 4.3 Potential adverse effects and recommended mitigation ........................................................................... 15 5. Golden Bar Road realignment ........................................................................................................................ 16 5.1 General...................................................................................................................................................... 16 5.2 Current vegetation .................................................................................................................................... 16 5.3 Potential adverse effects and recommended mitigation ........................................................................... 17 6. Camp Creek Storage Dam .............................................................................................................................. 19 6.1 Existing information................................................................................................................................. 19 6.2 Current vegetation .................................................................................................................................... 19 6.3 Natural values........................................................................................................................................... 23 6.4 Potential adverse effects and recommended mitigation ........................................................................... 24 6.4.1 Mitigation for Ecologically Significant Plant Species ...................................................................... 24 7. Back Road Waste Rock Stack ........................................................................................................................ 25 7.1 Existing information................................................................................................................................. 25 7.2 Current vegetation .................................................................................................................................... 25 7.3 Natural values........................................................................................................................................... 29 7.4 Potential adverse effects and recommended mitigation ........................................................................... 31 7.5 Mitigation for Ecologically Significant Plant Species ............................................................................. 32 8. Top Tipperary Tailings Storage Facility ........................................................................................................ 34 8.1 Existing information................................................................................................................................. 34 8.2 Current vegetation .................................................................................................................................... 34 8.3 Tipperary Creek silt pond......................................................................................................................... 36 8.4 Natural values........................................................................................................................................... 36 8.5 Potential adverse effects and recommended mitigation ........................................................................... 37 9. Frasers North Waste Rock Stack.................................................................................................................... 38 9.1 Existing information................................................................................................................................. 38 9.2 Current vegetation .................................................................................................................................... 38 9.3 Natural values........................................................................................................................................... 39 9.4 Potential adverse effects and recommended mitigation ........................................................................... 39 10. Frasers South Waste Rock Stack.................................................................................................................. 40 10.1 Existing information............................................................................................................................... 40 10.2 Current vegetation .................................................................................................................................. 40 10.3 Natural values......................................................................................................................................... 41 10.4 Potential adverse effects and recommended mitigation ......................................................................... 42 11. Round Hill Extension ................................................................................................................................... 43 11.1 Existing information............................................................................................................................... 43 11.2 Current vegetation .................................................................................................................................. 43 11.3 Natural values......................................................................................................................................... 44 11.4 Potential adverse effects and recommended mitigation ......................................................................... 44 12. Round Hill - Southern Pit Extension ............................................................................................................ 45 12.1 Existing information............................................................................................................................... 45 12.2 Current vegetation .................................................................................................................................. 45 12.3 Natural values......................................................................................................................................... 45 12.4 Potential adverse effects and recommended mitigation ......................................................................... 45 Ryder Consulting Oceana Gold Macraes Gold Phase III Project Botanical assessment: April 2011 4 13. Innes Mills Stage V ...................................................................................................................................... 46 13.1 Existing information..............................................................................................................................