Marlborough Sounds Resource Management Plan effects of activities. Council must also have regard to a number of other matters contained within Part II of the Act, including: • The efficient use and development of natural and physical resources; • The maintenance and enhancement of amenity values; and • The maintenance and enhancement of the quality of the environment. The residential area is the urban environment’s largest land use. There is a need to enable people to provide for their economic, social and cultural wellbeing through ensuring a level of amenity in the residential area that is compatible with quality living. Five sub-issues have been identified in relation to the residential environment. These issues are: 1. Threats to the existing residential character of Picton Waikawa, Havelock and the Rai Valley through inappropriate land use and development within the residential area; 2. Allowing for activities to take place within residential areas; 3. Protecting the residential character and amenities of residential environments; 4. Water supply and sewage disposal in residential areas; and 5. The need to encourage energy efficiency in the residential environment. These issues will be discussed in turn with objectives, policies and methods of implementation incorporated to address them. 10.2.1 Issue Threats to the existing residential character of Picton, Waikawa, Havelock and Rai Valley through inappropriate land use and development within the residential area. The main residential areas of the Marlborough Sounds are located in the Picton/ Waikawa Bay and Havelock urban areas. There are also smaller rural townships (Rai Valley) and small groups of residential dwellings throughout the Sounds. The population has declined in Picton over the period of 1986 to 1991 but in Havelock and Waikawa there was a significant population increase over that time. In briefly looking at statistics from the 1991 census, a number of main points are evident: • Waikawa has experienced significant growth in population and number of occupied dwellings since 1981; • There is very high proportion of population in the over 60 years age group; and • Predominant areas of employment are in manufacturing, hospitality, transport/communication, and community/personal services. It is noted that Picton experienced a large population increase from 1981 to 1986 but a decline of population in the period of 1986 to 1991. A flat growth rate is now predicted for Picton with no substantial increase or decrease in population predicted for the next census period. 10 - 4