17. Transportation Volume One [D] Policy 17.6.1 – Maintain amenity values in rural and urban areas by encouraging the use of national and arterial routes by high volumes of traffic and heavy vehicles and discouraging high volume and heavy traffic use of collector routes and local routes, particularly where these pass through residential areas. The current state of vehicle technology in New Zealand means that noise and vehicle emissions can be expected from the operation of vehicles on roads. There is little the MEP can do to modify those conditions. However, the Council can control the extent of these effects by adopting a road hierarchy, which encourages higher volumes of traffic and heavy traffic movements on certain routes and discourages them on others. An exception is made for some primary production activities, which need to use collector and local routes to transport produce to processing facilities. [D] Policy 17.6.2 – The development, maintenance and use of the land transport network must be undertaken in a manner that protects natural and physical resources and the health, safety and wellbeing of the community through avoiding, remedying or mitigating: (a) adverse effects on air and water quality, including from contaminated run-off from roads discharging into water or onto or into land; (b) effects on places of significance to Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi; (c) loss of visual amenity in modifying the landscape; (d) loss of natural character in the coastal environment, wetlands, lakes, rivers and their margins; (e) destruction of areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna; (f) effects of severing communities and/or losing links between parts of settlements; and (g) adverse effects on local amenities, including from noise and vibration. It is important that where new roads or extensions or upgrading of existing roads are proposed that the effects identified in this policy are avoided, remedied or mitigated. [D] Policy 17.6.3 – Mitigate the adverse effects of vehicle and fossil fuel usage where practicable by reducing potential travel times to and from home, work, community and business places through consolidated development of Marlborough’s towns. There is worldwide concern over the increasing use of non-renewable fossil fuels by all forms of transport. However, it appears that in the medium term the demand for fuel will continue to increase as independent mobility remains a major part of transportation. In Marlborough, this mobility is often necessary to ensure a basic level of accessibility (especially in rural areas) where, without a large population base, regular public transport systems are difficult. The Council believes the best way to mitigate the effects of vehicle and fossil fuel usage is to consider the pattern and density of urban development and how these can influence transport demands. A compact urban area with increased densities can reduce the need for and length of trips by private motor vehicles. The location of employment in relation to where people live can also have an effect on trip generation and the type of transport used. 17 – 14