14. Use of the Rural Environment Volume One (b) encourage a sense of distance between buildings as well as between buildings and road boundaries; and (c) maintain the pleasantness, coherence, openness and attractiveness of the site as viewed from the road and adjoining sites. In rural environments, most houses and buildings tend to be set back from road boundaries at greater distances than in urban areas. This positioning adds to the sense of space between buildings and the unrestricted views from roadsides. Policy 14.4.3 encourages a large setback from the road boundary to maintain rural character and amenity values. It also helps to deal with reverse sensitivity issues in terms of mitigating effects of traffic noise, especially where development is to be located on major arterials or state highways. [D] Policy 14.4.4 – Ensure subdivision in rural areas: (a) does not lead to a pattern of land uses that will adversely affect rural character and/or amenity values; and (b) creates allotments of sufficient size for rural activities to predominate in rural areas. Control of subdivision is necessary to ensure rural environments can accommodate a wide range of rural activities and for these activities to be predominant in this environment. This helps to support the elements of rural character described in Policy 14.4.1. The potential for subdivision patterns to influence subsequent land use is an important consideration in determining the potential impacts on rural character and amenity. [D] Policy 14.4.5 – Noise limits consistent with the character and amenity of the Rural and Coastal Environment Zones have been established to provide for the protection of community health and welfare. The adverse effects of noise are an issue in rural environments where noise may impact on the health of people and communities, as well as their enjoyment of the District. While there is always background noise, some noise can become a nuisance and even cause health problems through its character, duration or time of occurrence. Rural environments contain a wide range of activities that result in levels of noise effects that may be contrary to the expectations of people more used to the amenity of urban areas. Traditional rural activities, such as late night and early morning use of machinery that creates noise are normally acceptable to people used to a rural environment, particularly where their livelihood is dependent on the land. However, to ensure that the character and amenity of rural areas is maintained, limits through permitted activity standards will be imposed. [D] Policy 14.4.6 – Mitigate nuisance effects on adjoining dwellings or adjoining properties caused by dust from earthworks or stockpiled material. Marlborough’s rural environments are regularly exposed to winds (particularly north westerlies), during which dust is easily generated from natural sources such as riverbeds or land. However, dust nuisance can be exacerbated by being blown from stockpiled material or extensive earthworks associated with subdivision or construction works. This policy addresses dust nuisance from activities in rural environments and through permitted activity standards requires steps to be taken to reduce potential dust nuisance, such as dampening down earth until it is consolidated or covering and securing stockpiled material that could be blown about by the wind. 14 – 10