Volume One 5. Allocation of Public Resources [R] 5.M.6 Incentives Incentivise the storage of water during periods of higher river flow to provide an alternative supply of water during periods of low flow. Incentives include the use of a permitted activity for the use of stored water and a controlled activity for the taking of Class C water. [R] 5.M.7 Modelling Model the irrigation demand of pasture and crops according to soil type and climate. The model output will be used as a basis for determining allocations for the use of water. The model will be provided to water users via the E-planning tool. [R] 5.M.8 Research Continue to research the reasonable use requirements of the crops grown in Marlborough. This will include continuing to collect and refine soil information to allow the model to be refined over time. [R] 5.M.9 Advocacy Encourage water users to undertake soil moisture monitoring on irrigated properties so that irrigation occurs to maintain soil moisture levels. This will result in more responsive and efficient use of water. Issue 5J – People want to be able to use and develop the coastal marine area for private benefit. The Council’s role in managing the resources of the coastal marine area follows from the way in which people’s use of the coastal marine area is restricted under the RMA. The RMA prohibits the use or occupation of the coastal marine area unless allowed to by resource consent or rules within a regional coastal plan. (The same situation does not apply to land uses above the mean high water springs mark, where people are allowed to use land unless a district plan rule states they cannot.) Management regimes for specific uses and activities in the coastal marine area are included within Chapter 13 - Use of the Coastal Environment. However, provisions in this part of the Marlborough Environment Plan (MEP) deal with higher level concerns about how space in the coastal marine area should be allocated, the degree to which various occupations generate private versus public benefits and the circumstances in which a user should pay to use the space. The community has different expectations about the extent of rights able to be enjoyed in using public resources. For some, there is a belief that there is a right to be able to have a jetty and a boatshed fronting a family property in the Marlborough Sounds and multiple moorings for boats. Others believe that there are no such rights. Many such structures have limited benefit for the wider public, yet occupy public space. Conversely, some structures, such as public jetties and launching ramps, do provide enhanced public use of and access to the coast and consequently are of general public benefit. The occupation of coastal marine area may effectively prevent other activities from occurring. The extent to which the public are excluded from parts of the coastal marine area varies according to the nature of an authorised activity, whether by resource consent or by a rule in a regional coastal plan. At times there can also be conflict and competition for water space, where uses and activities are not necessarily compatible in the same area. 5 – 31