Volume One 17. Transportation 17. Transportation Introduction Transport plays a key role in our lives and in the economic and social development of Marlborough, providing us with significant benefits and opportunities. It enables us to travel to work, shops and schools easily and helps us to enjoy many recreational and social opportunities. It is therefore important to ensure transport systems within Marlborough are effective and efficient. Like much of regional New Zealand, Marlborough is dependent on transport links for moving people and goods to, from and within the District. Marlborough’s location in central New Zealand makes it part of nationally important transport routes and links. These include the interisland water transport route through the Marlborough Sounds, State Highway 1, the main trunk rail and Blenheim Airport. Within Marlborough there is a tendency for people to rely heavily on motor vehicle transport. Additionally, the extensive nature of the Marlborough Sounds and the various activities that occur there means that water transport is also a fundamental part of Marlborough’s overall transport network. Air transport from Omaka Airfield near Blenheim and Picton Airport at Koromiko is also of local and regional importance to the community. Transport infrastructure is a significant component of the physical resources of Marlborough. The community's reliance on transport infrastructure and networks to provide for their social and economic wellbeing means that it is important to enable their continued use. On the other hand establishing, maintaining and using transport infrastructure and networks can have adverse effects on the environment. The resource management issues in this chapter therefore focus on the sustainable management of the physical infrastructure of transport networks, the services that use them and the adverse environmental effects that arise from operation of the networks. (Note that the provisions for water transportation in Marlborough’s coastal marine area have been included within Chapter - 13 Use of the Coastal Environment.) Air Transportation Issue 17A – There are significant positive effects arising from the operation of Marlborough’s airports/airfield. It is important that these resources are recognised and provided for so that they can continue to serve the wider community now and in the future. Marlborough is served by three airports/airfields: Blenheim Airport, some six kilometres east of Blenheim; Omaka Airfield, also on the outskirts of Blenheim; and Picton Airport, located at Koromiko near Picton. Collectively, these airports/airfields contribute significantly to the social and economic wellbeing of the people and community of Marlborough and are important for both passenger and freight transport. Blenheim Airport also contributes to the wider New Zealand community as part of a national network of airports for both passengers and freight. Blenheim Airport is unique in that it is both a military and civilian airport. The civilian operation is undertaken by Marlborough Airport Limited through a licence from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). Commercial operations include commuter flights between Blenheim and Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland as well as scenic flights. Other air-related activities 17 – 1