Marlborough Sounds Resource Management Plan 1 July 2011 Maintenance of food gathering and recreational amenity values relating to water ecosystems; The safeguarding of areas of special freshwater ecological significance; Protection of visual aesthetics; The natural clarity of any permanently flowing river or lake not conspicuously reduced due to sediment or sediment laden discharge originating from the site of a land disturbance operation; Land disturbance which does not result in woody material being left in any permanently flowing river, lake or wetland; Preservation of the natural character of wetlands, lakes, rivers and their margins; and Continued maintenance of the water within the aquifers in a condition and at a level which makes them suitable and available for use as indicated by the level of the watertable and the quality of the water. The following Policies have been added to this plan as directed by the National Policy Statement Freshwater management 2011 in accordance with Section 55 of the Resource Management Act 1991. 3.5 Water Quality 1. When considering any application for a discharge the consent authority must have regard to the following matters: a) the extent to which the discharge would avoid contamination that will have an adverse effect on the life-supporting capacity of fresh water including on any ecosystem associated with fresh water and b) the extent to which it is feasible and dependable that any more than minor adverse effect on fresh water, and on any ecosystem associated with fresh water, resulting from the discharge would be avoided. 2. This policy applies to the following discharges (including a diffuse discharge by any person or animal): a) a new discharge or b) a change or increase in any discharge – of any contaminant into fresh water, or onto or into land in circumstances that may result in that contaminant (or, as a result of any natural process from the discharge of that contaminant, any other contaminant) entering fresh water. 3 - 10