15. Resource Quality (Water, Air, Soil) Volume One [R] 15.M.34 Information Ensure that the community is aware of prohibited materials that cannot be burned and why these prohibitions exist. Also ensure that alternative options to the burning of waste are well publicised. Consider including information on LIMs advising prospective purchasers of rural land of the possible presence of activities that may affect amenity values (reverse sensitivity) through effects such as smoke and spraydrift. [R] 15.M.35 Codes of practice and industry guidelines Advocate to resource user groups that they, locally or nationally, prepare and/or adopt codes of practice or other guidelines aimed at reducing the effects of the discharge of contaminants to air. This will include NZS8409:2004 Management of Agrichemicals (or its successor), which provides specific guidance on the safe, responsible and effective management of agrichemicals. [R] 15.M.36 Advocate Communicate to manufacturers and suppliers of agrichemicals and application machinery the role they have in education and providing information on the use of agrichemicals, with a view to minimising the likelihood and potential effects of spraydrift beyond property boundaries. [R] 15.M.37 Liaison Work with Sustainable Winegrowers and other industry groups that collect information on agrichemical use to monitor the nature (including methods of application) and extent of agrichemical use in Marlborough. Work with industry groups and individuals undertaking discharges to air to develop and implement measures to reduce contaminant concentrations in discharges to air. Soil Soil is the upper most layer of material that covers much of the earth’s land surface. It consists of different elements including minerals, rock fragments, dead and decaying organic matter and living organisms. Soil is compromised of more than the top 20 centimetres of earth cultivated by the farmer or gardener before sowing crops or pasture; it includes soil horizons (layers) that extend down to the mineral rock material (parent material) from which the soil has developed. Soils evolve over time through the additions and losses of materials. Such changes can be influenced by climate, living organisms, topography and original rock forms. Soils are therefore highly variable in their composition, appearance and importantly, use. There are over 87 different soil types in Marlborough, each reflecting variation in parent materials, age of soil development, climate and topography. Collectively, these diverse soils are one of our most important natural resources. Marlborough’s social and economic development has historically been based on its strong primary production sector, including farming, forestry, food (and supplementary feed) crops, horticulture and most recently, viticulture. The ability to grow pasture and a wide variety of crops relies upon the health of our soil resources. We also depend on soil resources to treat and contain many of the contaminants we deliberately or inadvertently release into the environment. In doing so, soil helps to maintain community health standards and protect water resources from contamination. Soil also acts to absorb, channel and store water, a particularly important function in Marlborough’s dry climate. 15 – 36