Volume One 14. Use of the Rural Environment cannot be carried out easily or appropriately in an urban setting. They include soil-based production and some processing of primary products. At the same time as providing an enabling approach, it is important that primary production activities are undertaken in a sustainable manner to achieve the purpose of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The objective therefore also seeks to ensure there are appropriate management regimes in place to deal with adverse effects that may result from primary production activities in rural environments. [D] Policy 14.1.1 – Enable the efficient use and development of rural environments for primary production. Currently, a wide range of primary productive land uses are undertaken in Marlborough’s rural environments, from viticulture to extensive forestry, pastoral farming, dairy farming and cropping. This policy provides for those uses to continue, which will assist in achieving Objective 14.1, although the management regime in the MEP will include controls to manage adverse effects. At times there may be a change in land use or management practices for primary production to enhance the efficient use of land resources and the MEP does not intend to unduly curtail any opportunity for this to occur. However, the management framework for rural environments, which includes rural areas within the Marlborough Sounds and elsewhere in the District, does include standards to maintain environmental quality, character and amenity values. [D] Policy 14.1.2 – Parcel size in rural environments shall ensure there is adequate choice for primary production and avoids the fragmentation of land for primary productive use. Subdivision can both facilitate and constrain development, depending on its location and density. Subdivision in rural environments can have adverse effects on the ability to use rural land efficiently for productive purposes. For example, small lots for residential purposes remove land from production and can constrain rural activities through sensitivity to the effects of those activities. Being a finite resource, rural land can be vulnerable to small scale changes that cumulatively have a significant effect on the ability of land to be used efficiently for primary production and other rural activities. The focus of this policy therefore ensures that the rural resource does not become so fragmented through the subdivision of land that its use for primary production is diminished. [D] Policy 14.1.3 – Activities and buildings in rural environments should be linked to land- based primary production of Marlborough’s rural resources and require a rural location. Policy 14.1.3 aims to ensure that the potential of rural environments for primary production options is not compromised by activities and/or buildings that do not need to be located within or have an association with rural environments, or which do not rely on the use of rural resources. While a wide range of activities are provided for within rural environments, their establishment will not be allowed to occur in a manner that threatens the sustainable and economic use of rural environments. The safeguarding of rural environments for activities that genuinely require a rural location will ensure that opportunities remain available for accommodating these activities. [R, C, D] Policy 14.1.4 – Manage primary production activities to ensure they are carried out sustainably through the implementation of policies and methods (including rules establishing standards for permitted activities) to address potential adverse effects on: (a) the life supporting capacity of soils, water, air and ecosystems; (b) natural character of rivers, wetlands and lakes; (c) water quality and water availability; (d) areas with landscape significance; 14 – 3