29 May 2014 Chapter 11 - Rural Environments 11.0 Rural Environments 11.1 Introduction This discussion seeks to establish the circumstances surrounding the sustainable use of rural resources and how the effects of those uses contribute to the environment. The rural environment is composed of landforms and settlement patterns dominated by land use. These landscapes have a distinctive character which largely reflects the use of resources. The Plan seeks to make the possibility of changes in activities that promote sustainable management of rural resources easier than has been the case in the past. The resources of the rural environment result from the interaction of climate, topography and soil type, and the effects of their use and development: soil is the result of interaction between similar physical conditions. These conditions collectively impose long-term limitations on sustainability of rural resources. The structure and land use pattern reflects the multitude of individual decisions made by resource users. These decisions have led to an increase in the variety of enterprises. This has, in turn, led to increased diversity in the rural environment. It is not the role of the Council or the Plan to direct the use of resources and equally neither should they unduly restrict activities which promote the sustainable management of rural resources. Resource use in the rural environment may result in: • Removal of indigenous vegetation resulting in the destruction of habitats; • Development of roading to accommodate increased traffic; • Shading of frost susceptible roads; • Use of agrichemical inputs, including pesticides and fertilisers; • Creation of smell, dust, noise, health or other nuisance; • Discharge of wastes; and • Land disturbance, including cultivation, tracking and fire breaking; • Changes to surface, ground, and coastal water quality, and wetlands. As well as primary production, rural activities include: • Provision for tourism and recreation activities based on rural resources and the lives and settlements of rural dwellers involved in primary production; • Intensive farming; and • Industrial activities ancillary to primary production. Rural amenity values include: landscape and scenic values, individual privacy, open rural outlook, spaciousness, ease of access, clean air, unique odours, overall quietness, water availability, and wellbeing of resident people and communities. The rural environment has a great variety of landforms, encompassing mountains, hills, valleys and coastal cliffs that support a wide range of soils, vegetation 11 - 1