Volume One 13. Use of the Coastal Environment [C, D] Policy 13.17.10 – Restrictions on public access to and within port areas may be appropriate to maintain public health, safety and security. The operational area of a port is often popular for a range of recreational activities such as fishing, walking and viewing port activities. However, these activities are not always compatible with a working port. Health and safety hazards, international security legislation and local security needs may require restricted access, particularly for an export port such as Picton. As reclamation and port developments have the effect of limiting public access to public resources (i.e. the coastal marine area), limitations on public access should only be exercised where necessary. [C, D] Policy 13.17.11 – Restricting public access to, within and through marinas should be avoided unless public health, safety or security is an issue. Marinas are often popular with people for walking and viewing day to day activities. In some circumstances, such as at Picton and Waikawa marinas, they also provide access to the foreshore beyond the marina. Provision for public access has in the past been a requirement of consent to establish or extend marinas. For this reason it is important that restrictions on public access to these areas are avoided, unless real and apparent concerns for public health and safety or for the security of boats exist. Issue 13K – There is potential for adverse effects to arise from the operation and maintenance of existing ports at Picton and Havelock, port landing areas at Elaine Bay and Oyster Bay and existing marinas at Picton, Waikawa and Havelock. Ports and marinas spanning the land/water interface are one of the most concentrated forms of development within the coastal environment. The nature of activities occurring within ports, port landing areas and marinas means there is the potential for adverse effects to occur. Unless appropriate management mechanisms are in place, these potential adverse effects can be significant. Noise and traffic movement may be of concern to nearby residents when boats/trucks enter and leave facilities at all hours of the day and night. Lighting may also be of concern as ports and marinas are commonly lit at night for security reasons. Other activities may involve discharges to air or water and depending on the exact nature of these activities, they may also be an issue for nearby residents or the wider environment. While Marlborough currently experiences very little conflict between residential areas and ports (compared to most of New Zealand’s larger port cities), any adverse amenity effects need to be minimised as much as possible. Permitted activity standards are the appropriate mechanism by which the effects of activities within ports and marinas can be managed. Occasionally infrastructure within the ports or marinas may need to be replaced, expanded or altered to meet changing commercial demands or needs. Any expansion or significant alteration to facilities has the potential to cause significant environmental effects and these must be carefully assessed, particularly within the coastal marine area. [R, C, D] Objective 13.18 – Operation and maintenance of the Port, Port Landing Area and Marina Zones occurs in a way that minimises adverse effects on adjoining zones, water quality, air quality and values of the coastal environment. By its very nature the operation of a port, port landing area or marina creates the potential for adverse effects to occur on the surrounding land and coastal marine area. This objective seeks to ensure that the operation and maintenance of ports, port landing areas and marinas in their 13 – 51