29 May 2014 Chapter 11 - Rural Environments incorporating a nutrient budget developed by an accredited nutrient adviser using OVERSEER® or similar, that describes how the major plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and potassium, and any other of importance to specialist crops) will be managed, including all sources of nutrient, for example discharges from farm dairy effluent systems, animal discharges, atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Rules to control subdivision are essential to ensure lot sizes remain large enough to enable sustainable management of rural land that results in the productive use of the land, allows for a range of future potential productive uses of the soil resource, retains the character and amenity values of the rural environment, and minimises conflict between activities in rural areas. Management Plans as part of resource consents for new dairy farm conversions will enable rural land to be used in such a way as to avoid adverse effects on water quality, while providing farmers the flexibility to manage their activity in a manner best suited to achieving the outcomes they are seeking. Guidelines and education allow flexibility of approach to accommodate new information, changes in community perceptions, and take account of management systems and the needs of crop rotations. Rules limit the use of rural resources to include those activities that are rural land based activities in nature, require a rural setting or are necessary to enable rural communities to provide for their social, cultural and economic wellbeing. 11.5 Anticipated Environmental Results Implementation of the policies and methods for the management of the rural environment will result in: • Evolution of a rural environment that exhibits harmony and balance between retention of its character and amenity, and provision for the wellbeing of people and communities dependent on the utilisation of rural resources; • Enhancement of the character and amenity values of rural areas; • Protection of the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems; • Subdivision of land which promotes the sustainable management of rural resources, and makes provision for tourism and recreation based on rural activities and lifestyles while avoiding the undesirable fragmentation of existing larger rural lots; • Promotion of sustainable resource management practices through encouragement of different lifestyle opportunities; • Retention of amenity and character in the rural environment by maintenance of low density development, residential development compatible with the rural character and supportive of rural communities, and establishment of small scale community facilities which directly serve the needs of the rural community; and • Maintenance of rural contribution to regional social and economic wellbeing. 11 - 7