9. Public Access and Open Space Volume One exceptions account for other matters, which the RMA and practicality suggest should take priority when the circumstances arise. Despite there being no equivalent national policy statement about public access to freshwater bodies, the RMA still requires public access to and along the margins of lakes and rivers to be recognised and provided for as a matter of national importance. As there is a high level of public use of Marlborough’s waterbodies, it is similarly appropriate to identify the circumstances where access can be restricted. In particular, exception (a) is necessary to exclude the public from areas to which they would otherwise have access in order to protect the security of operations that have resource consents granted in respect of, or designations operating in, those areas. This is particularly relevant to activities that extend across the land/water interface, e.g. within the port area where health and safety issues may occur. Exception (g) recognises the difficulty of foreseeing all circumstances in which a restriction may be necessary. However, circumstances need to be exceptional at a national level, as mandated by legislation or otherwise sufficient to override the national importance of unrestricted public access. [RPS, C, D] Policy 9.2.2 – Aside from the circumstances in Policy 9.2.1 above, constraints on public access shall not be imposed unless: (a) there is no practical alternative; and (b) the effects on public access would be no more than minor. The policy is included in recognition that the RMA has placed a high priority on maintaining and enhancing public access to the coast, and to the margins of lakes and rivers. Issue 9B – Ensuring the provision and management of suitable open space meets the present and future recreational, conservation and landscape needs of the community. Open space and recreation areas serve a wide variety of purposes in Marlborough and vary in terms of significance to residents and visitors. Some areas have only local significance, while others assume regional, national or even international significance. Most areas of reserve, open space and publicly owned land fulfil one or more of the following purposes. • Visual amenity (e.g. gardens, areas of indigenous vegetation, landscape views) • Children’s play (e.g. playground equipment, neighbourhood parks) • Active outdoor activities (e.g. team sports, physical fitness, water sports, skiing, golf, tramping, fishing and hunting) • Low impact use of open space (e.g. picnicking) • Access (e.g. especially to the coast, waterways and the high country) • Linkages (e.g. walking tracks, cycleways) • Built facilities (e.g. halls, clubrooms, pre-schools, swimming pools, libraries) • Historic sites and features • Conservation (e.g. ecological values, water margins, wetland, indigenous habitats, fauna and flora) • Public utilities (e.g. toilets, reticulated services) • Commercial opportunities (e.g. rafting, four wheel drive tours) 9 – 10