Marlborough Sounds Resource Management Plan Each of the ports has the potential to cause significant environmental effects including noise, traffic generation, air and water discharges, foreshore and seabed disturbance and landscape impacts. Most effects are able to be avoided or mitigated by careful management of operations. Performance standards will be applied to all activities within port areas to avoid, remedy, or mitigate adverse effects. Any expansion of the ports has the potential to cause significant effects on the environment, many of which would be adverse. In each of the ports, the area of available land is limited. Any expansion of a port area would be likely to require additional reclamation of sea bed. Given the limited availability of port land it is considered necessary to restrict activities to those which are associated with the primary port activities and which rely on a location close to water transport. The Council wishes to avoid a situation where port expansion, involving sea bed reclamation, is necessitated because available land has been absorbed by activities or industries which do not rely on such a close proximity to ports or water transport. Further development of port facilities on the western side of Shakespeare Bay needs to recognise the sensitivity of the shoreline and associated bush and reserve land. Picton and Shakespeare Bay are the appropriate locations for further district port development but development proposals need to take account of the environmental values of the western shoreline. Changing commodities or methods of transportation may require changes in the current port facilities provided. This may involve proposals for expansion of existing facilities within zoned port areas or for the development of facilities in new locations. Such proposals will be considered as either resource consents or plan changes and will be assessed in terms of the relevant objectives, policies and standards of the Plan. Further activities which take place in a port or harbour area are the maintenance of boats and disposal of waste from ships. The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement requires that the Plan address the adverse environmental effects of these activities. However, regulations introduced pursuant to sections 15A, 15B and 15C of the Act control discharges and dumping from ships and the Council is responsible for administering and enforcing those regulations. Rules regarding discharges from boat maintenance not covered by the Regulations, are included in the Plan. As a part of managing the effects of port and harbour activity, the effects of this activity on landscape value and the visual character of the town needs to be taken into account. 10.6.1.1 Objectives and Policies Objective 1 Maintain a standard of amenity in the ports of Picton and Havelock and in Shakespeare Bay which is compatible with port activities while avoiding, remedying and mitigating adverse effects resulting from this activity on neighbouring areas Policy 1.1 Provide for port and harbour activity by zoning specific areas suitable for port activities and activities associated with port and water transport in: 10 - 28