Volume One 2. Background Cross boundary issues can arise from: • differences in policies and methods between regional policy statements or plans of adjoining local authorities; • adverse effects of activities in adjoining areas; and/or • different community aspirations and goals in adjoining areas. Councils that adjoin Marlborough include Canterbury and Wellington Regional Councils, Kaikoura, Tasman and Hurunui District Councils, and Nelson City Council. Like Marlborough, Tasman and Nelson are unitary authorities. As well as geographical boundaries with adjoining councils, the MEP must also address administrative cross boundary issues. These issues arise from dealings with bodies having statutory responsibilities for activities with implications for resource management. These bodies include the Department of Conservation, Ministry of Primary Industries, Nelson/Marlborough Fish and Game Council, Maritime Safety Authority, the Ministry of Transport and the New Zealand Transport Agency. Under the RMA the mean high water spring boundary separates the primary management responsibilities for the land and coastal water between agencies. The Council, in conjunction with the Minister of Conservation, is responsible for the management of the coastal marine area. The Minister has the responsibility for the final approval of regional coastal plans prepared by a regional council. Landward of mean high water springs the relationship is different and the Council has responsibility for sustainably managing Marlborough’s natural and physical resources. The Council will continue to advise the community about its role and responsibilities for the sustainable management of the natural and physical resources of Marlborough and the links it has with other administrative agencies and interest groups. The Council will also continue to liaise with other agencies and interest groups with responsibility for either managing or using the natural and physical resources of the District. To address cross boundary issues the Council will use the following processes: Monitoring Identify issues that may have cross boundary implications. Consultation With central government and adjoining territorial authorities and regional councils on cross boundary issues. Protocols Establish, in conjunction with central government and other local authorities, mechanisms for the identification, discussion and resolution of cross boundary issues. Liaison Establish, where appropriate, joint working groups, joint committees and other co-operative systems for dealing with and resolving cross boundary issues between central government and other local authorities Resource Consent Use, where appropriate, the provisions in the RMA for joint hearings when Applications, Plan applications are made to two or more consent authorities for resource Changes consents for the same activity. Most planning matters and resource consents are unlikely to have cross boundary effects. However, where an activity requires plan changes or resource consents near the district boundary and there is potential for effects to be felt beyond Marlborough, the Council will: • serve copies of applications and requests on adjoining councils; 2 – 9