14. Use of the Rural Environment Volume One Where resource consent is required for subdivision or development within the Rural Living Zone, the matters in this policy will help to determine whether the subdivision or development is appropriate. In particular, the matters concerning the character of the locality and coastal amenity values are important in terms of having regard to 7(c) and (f) of the RMA. Matters concerning the discharge of domestic wastewater are equally important and regard is to be had to the policies of Chapter 16 - Waste to assist in giving effect to this policy. Note that policy guidance for Urban Residential 2 and Urban Residential 3 Zones can be found in Chapter 12 - Urban Environments, and for the Coastal Living Zone in Chapter 13 - Use of the Coastal Environment. Methods of implementation The methods listed below, addressing Issues 14A, 14B and 14C are to be implemented by the Council unless otherwise specified. [D] 14.M.1 Zoning A range of matters help to determine appropriate management approaches to ensure the sustainable management of rural environments. These include the nature of existing primary production activities, proximity of these activities to urban areas, the presence of flood hazards, presence of the coastal environment, the occurrence of regionally significant infrastructure, the location of conservation estate and river systems, and the character and amenity of rural environments. Some of these factors warrant different management approaches to ensure the long term sustainability of those environments. The matters identified reflect considerations used historically in previous management regimes for rural environments and two rural based zones have been established for the MEP to sustainably manage use, development and subdivision activities within Marlborough’s rural environments. These are the Coastal Environment Zone, which includes land areas within the Marlborough Sounds where a coastal influence is evident, and the Rural Environment Zone, which includes the balance of rural areas in Marlborough. Within the broader rural environment, there are other zones in which activities should be managed within a specific context, for example Open Space Zones and the Floodway Zone. In addition, there are some areas that have been identified for additional management that reflects particular characteristics of the area concerned; see Method 14.M.2. [D] 14.M.2 Area overlays Two areas have been identified as requiring more specific management within the Rural Environment Zone: the Wairau Plain and the Omaka Valley. The areas are identified through an overlay. In addition to the rules and policy of the Rural Environment Zone, specific policy and rules will be applied for certain subdivision, use and developments activities within these overlay areas. The Wairau Plain Area has historically been zoned separately (the Rural 3 Zone in the former Wairau/Awatere Resource Management Plan) as it has characteristics distinct from the surrounding rural areas. With its large area of flat land, proximity to the major urban centre of Blenheim and rich alluvial soils, it is the most intensively developed and modified rural area in Marlborough and therefore requires additional management. Although the Omaka Valley Area has not been previously identified as having characteristics different from surrounding rural areas, this valley has developed particular amenity values over the life of the former Wairau/Awatere Resource Management Plan that are worthy of maintaining through application of specific policy. 14 – 18