15. Resource Quality (Water, Air, Soil) Volume One Marlborough. Riparian planting along these drains needs to be undertaken carefully to ensure that the effectiveness of the drainage network is not adversely affected. [D] Policy 15.1.28 – To require where appropriate (as part of the subdivision consent process) the creation of esplanade reserves and esplanade strips to maintain or enhance water quality. Esplanade reserves or esplanade strips can be taken for the purposes set out in Section 229 of the RMA, including where this will contribute to the protection of “conservation values” by maintaining or enhancing water quality. This policy signals that where conservation values are known to exist in surface waterbodies and those values are at risk due to degraded water quality or the potential for reduced water quality, then land may be taken or set aside upon subdivision. The resulting esplanade reserve or esplanade strip would act as a buffer between the waterbody and adjoining land use, reducing the potential for land use to adversely affect water quality. Tables 15.1 and 15.2 identify rivers that could benefit from the establishment of either an esplanade reserve or esplanade strip for water quality reasons. There may also be other circumstances where the application of the policy is relevant. [R, C] Policy 15.1.29 – To control land disturbance activities in order to: (a) mitigate the effects of increased sediment runoff to fresh waterbodies or coastal water; and (b) avoid the potential for direct entry of contaminants into groundwater. Controls will be applied to cultivation, excavation, filling and vegetation clearance to minimise the potential for sediment to reach rivers, lakes, wetlands and coastal waters. These controls will include the way in which the activity can be undertaken and the proximity of the activity to waterbodies or coastal water. Where there is certainty that activities undertaken in a particular way will not adversely affect water quality, the control can take the form of enabling rules. However, where there is uncertainty about the effect of the land disturbance activity on water quality and it is considered necessary to exercise discretion, then a discretionary activity rule will be used. Where excavations intercept groundwater at the time of the works (or thereafter), there is a possibility of aquifer contamination. Controls will be applied to excavation to minimise the potential for any contaminant to reach groundwater. This includes the drilling of a well and the management of the well head once it is commissioned. This policy assists to give effect to Policy 22 of the NZCPS. [R] Policy 15.1.30 – Protect groundwater sources of community drinking water by identifying land overlying groundwater vulnerable to leachate contamination. Manage, with respect to this land: (a) change in land use to activities that have the potential to result in leachate discharges so that activities are, where practicable, located elsewhere or the contaminants are contained; (b) existing land use activities so that any potential for groundwater contamination is monitored and, where necessary, corrective action is taken; (c) point source discharges of contaminants to land; and (d) excavation. 15 – 24