Volume One 4. Use of Natural and Physical Resources Issue 4B – The social and economic wellbeing, health and safety of the Marlborough community are at risk if community infrastructure is not able to operate efficiently, effectively and safely. We rely on a range of physical resources to allow our communities function on a day-by-day basis. These resources include the water, stormwater and waste disposal services provided to townships and small settlements; the transport links within Marlborough and connecting Marlborough to the remainder of the country; the provision of electricity and telecommunications; and, on the Lower Wairau Plain, the drainage of land. Collectively, this infrastructure is regionally significant due to the contribution it makes to our social and economic wellbeing, health and safety. Other infrastructure in (e.g. RNZAF Base Woodbourne) or running through Marlborough (e.g. the National Grid and state highways) also has national importance. It is important that this strategic infrastructure is able to operate efficiently, effectively and safely on an ongoing basis for community wellbeing. The ability to maintain, upgrade and replace existing infrastructure without significant constraint is important in this respect. Occasionally, new infrastructure may be required to provide for growth within the district. Other activities can adversely affect the performance of existing infrastructure, especially those undertaken in close proximity to the infrastructure. The use and operation of some types of regionally significant infrastructure can, by their nature, create actual or potential effects for land uses located in close proximity to the infrastructure (e.g. odour, dust, glare, noise). This means that they are susceptible to reverse sensitivity effects: where the expectations of land uses, especially residential land uses, constrain the use and operation of regionally significant infrastructure or, in the case of the roading network, adversely affect its carrying capacity. Other land use activities may directly affect existing infrastructure. For example, planting trees under or in close proximity to electricity transmission lines creates a potential fire hazard and a risk that lines may be brought down during severe winds. [RPS] Objective 4.2 – Efficient, effective and safe operation of regionally significant infrastructure The community relies on the considerable infrastructure that has been developed to protect and support the population. It is essential for the social and economic wellbeing, health and safety of the Marlborough community that this critical infrastructure continues to operate efficiently, effectively and safely on an ongoing basis. This includes the ability to maintain, upgrade and replace existing infrastructure. [RPS] Policy 4.2.1 – Recognise the social, economic, environmental, health and safety benefits from the following infrastructure, either existing or consented at the time the Marlborough Environment Plan became operative, as regionally significant: (a) reticulated sewerage systems (including the pipe network, treatment plants and associated infrastructure) operated by the Marlborough District Council; (b) reticulated community stormwater networks; (c) reticulated community water supply networks and water treatment plants operated by the Marlborough District Council; (d) regional landfill, transfer stations and the resource recovery centre; (e) National Grid (the assets used or owned by Transpower NZ Limited); (f) local electricity supply network owned and operated by Marlborough Lines; (g) facilities for the generation of electricity, where the electricity generated is supplied to the National Grid or the local electricity supply network (including 4 – 5