7. Landscape Volume One associative values that contribute to our significant landscapes means that locals and visitors alike can continue to appreciate this important part of Marlborough’s identity, character and environment. It is important to acknowledge that the landscape management mechanisms that stem from this objective do not anticipate that there will be no landscape change. Rather, the objective focusses on determining what is appropriate resource use and development in relation to the values that make the landscape significant. [R, C, D] Policy 7.2.1 – Control activities that have the potential to degrade those values contributing to outstanding natural features and landscapes by requiring activities and structures to be subject to a comprehensive assessment of effects on landscape values through the resource consent process. One of ways in which the Council is to fulfil its statutory obligations with respect to landscape is to control inappropriate subdivision, use and development through regional and district rules. Because some of Marlborough’s natural features and landscapes have been identified as having outstanding value, it is important that activities in these areas are assessed through the resource consent process to determine whether the activity will have an adverse effect on landscape values. The activities to be controlled vary between each outstanding natural feature and landscape as the values that contribute to the significant landscape, and the sensitivity of these values to change, will differ from place to place. For example, the threats to landscape values in the coastal environment could be different to those in the mountainous interior. Appendix 1 of the MEP identifies the values that make each outstanding natural feature and landscape significant. The MEP will also contain the regional and district rules. [D] Policy 7.2.2 – Control activities that have the potential to degrade the amenity values that contribute to the Wairau Dry Hills Landscape by: (a) setting permitted activity standards that are consistent with the existing landscape values and that will require greater assessment where proposed activities and structures exceed those standards; and (b) requiring resource consent for commercial forestry activities. The Wairau Dry Hills Landscape is more sensitive to change than other landscapes with high amenity value as it forms the visual backdrop to Blenheim and the Wairau Plain, providing an attractive contrast to the valley floor. (The specific values that are present within this landscape are set out in Appendix 1 of the MEP.) While most landscapes identified as having high amenity value have a non-regulatory approach as the means of maintaining and enhancing landscape value, for the Wairau Dry Hills landscape a regulatory approach is considered more appropriate in order to fulfil statutory obligations under Section 7(c) of the RMA. Only one activity, commercial forestry, needs to be assessed through the resource consent process, as it could have a significant adverse effect on the landscape values of this area. The use of standards for permitted activities is considered appropriate for other activities in order to manage effects on landscape values, as resource use and development is generally to be expected within this landscape. [C, D] Policy 7.2.3 – Control activities that have the potential to degrade the amenity values that contribute to those areas of the Marlborough Sounds Coastal Landscape not identified as being an outstanding natural feature and landscape by: (a) using a non-regulatory approach as the means of maintaining and enhancing landscape values in areas of this landscape zoned as Coastal Living; 7 – 6