Volume One 5. Allocation of Public Resources any subsequent plan changes) becoming operative to ensure that relevant environmental flows and levels are met. For many water resources, environmental flows or levels will be established for the first time. In other cases, environmental flows or levels established in previous planning documents, or on an ad hoc basis through the resource consent process in the absence of such plan limits, have been modified upon review. Where the ongoing exercise of those water permits will result in the non- attainment of Objective 5.2 due to the absence of limits or due to adherence to previous limits, then it is appropriate to consider imposing the limits set by the MEP. This will be achieved by undertaking a review of resource consent conditions in accordance with Section 128(1)(b) of the RMA. Such reviews can only occur once the rules setting the environmental flows or levels become operative. The policy signals that the reviews will occur within a set time period after the operative date. Plan changes subsequent to the MEP becoming operative may also introduce new limits or may modify existing limits. The policy can also apply in this situation once the plan change becomes operative. Issue 5C – Marlborough’s social and economic wellbeing relies on an adequate supply of freshwater. Water is considered Marlborough’s most important natural resource. Over time our communities have come to rely upon freshwater in the district’s rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers. This freshwater, particularly from aquifers, is the source of the drinking water that sustains many of Marlborough’s rural and urban communities and provides an essential contribution to health standards within those communities. Freshwater also critically supports primary production in Marlborough, particularly for irrigation of land and crops in our dry climate, and is heavily used for commercial and industrial purposes. The economic value of that water to Marlborough’s economy was estimated at $1.1 billion in 2011, 77% of which was contributed through primary production. Reductions in the supply of water would therefore have significant implications for Marlborough’s social and economic wellbeing. [R] Objective 5.3 – Enable access to reliable supplies of freshwater For the reasons identified in Issue 5C, enabling access to freshwater in Marlborough’s rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers is one of the Council’s most important functions. A reliable and suitable water supply maintains community health standards and can result in significant improvements in primary production, commercial and industrial outputs. This objective is considered necessary in order to ensure Marlborough’s social and economic vitality. [R] Policy 5.3.1 – To allocate water in the following order of priority: (a) natural and human use values; then (b) aquifer recharge; then (c) domestic and stock water supply; then (d) municipal water supply; and then (e) all other takes of water. This policy establishes a hierarchy of water uses. The hierarchy reflects the relative value or significance of the uses listed. The term “uses” is broad and extends beyond consumptive use to include intrinsic values, ecosystem services and hydrological functions. The relative priority between the different uses listed in (a) to (e) have been used as the basis for allocating Marlborough’s freshwater resources. This does not mean that consumptive use is not valuable or significant, but the application of the policy ensures that critical uses are provided for as a priority. 5 – 11