Chapter 10 - Urban Environments 10.0 Urban Environments 10.1 Introduction and Issue The need to recognise the extent and nature of the established urban resource and the associated pressure on infrastructure, natural resources and visual amenity including open space values resulting from urban development. In order to understand the nature of this issue it is first necessary to understand the theory which surrounds urban environments and patterns of human settlement. The development of urban environments, and reasons for this development, relate closely to the reasons which explain why people work and live in close proximity to other people. People choosing to ‘live together’ creates and is created by these urban environments. People choose to live together in close proximity in urban environments for the following reasons: • Humans are inter-dependent. An individual person is not generally able to look after all of their needs by themselves. People specialise and are thus dependent on one another for goods and services; • Humans are social animals and tend to want to live in close proximity to others. This satisfies cultural needs; • Economics of scale - it lessens the cost of services essential for human habitation such as sewage disposal and roading; and • It lessens the effects created by people on the environment. The population is concentrated and is able to deal with the adverse effects they create, collectively. Urban environments can maximise the economic, social and cultural opportunities available to people The towns of Picton (including Waikawa Bay) Havelock and Rai Valley are the recognised urban environments of the Marlborough Sounds. It is in these locations that most of the Sounds’ residents choose to live, work or at least use in some form. Picton has built up around the South Island terminus of the inter-island ferry service after originally developing as a fishing and whaling village. Picton is a ‘terminus’ and travel corridor for north and south bound travellers and freight traffic. Located central to the wider Marlborough Sounds, Picton is also a visitor destination itself and a ‘gateway’ to the Sounds. Picton is also the service town for the rural Sounds communities of Queen Charlotte Sound, Tory Channel, and Port Underwood. Waikawa Bay has developed as a residential settlement in its own right associated with a sheltered bay and recreational boat launching and mooring area. Waikawa Bay has also, more recently, developed as a suburban extension of Picton. Havelock has developed as the port and service town for the wider Pelorus Sound and for the fishing and marine farming industry developing in the Sound. Havelock is located on State Highway 6 between Picton and Nelson. The harbour 10 - 1