Volume One 7. Landscape these significant landscapes and the contribution they make to community wellbeing is recognised by the RMA. The value placed on our significant landscapes means that they are often more sensitive to change. Issues can arise where the effects of resource use, especially the subdivision, use and development of land result in the loss or degradation of the values fundamental or integral to a landscape being considered significant. As the community gains economic wellbeing from the productive use of natural and physical resources, it can be challenging to balance this against the need to retain the values that contribute to our significant landscapes. Judgements are therefore required to determine appropriate development within our significant landscapes. [RPS] Objective 7.1 – Identify Marlborough’s outstanding natural features and landscapes and landscapes with high amenity value. Identification of the nature and extent of outstanding natural features and landscapes and landscapes with high amenity value allows the application of appropriate management mechanisms. The identification process is a complex task, given the dynamic nature of Marlborough’s landscapes as well as the diverse range of values that contribute to Marlborough’s landscape character and the variation in the sensitivity of these values to change. In addition, our perception of landscape varies widely depending on our own culture and life experience. In this context, it is very important to identify those values that make particular landscapes significant. [RPS] Policy 7.1.1 – When assessing the values of Marlborough’s landscapes, the following criteria will be used: (a) biophysical values, including geological and ecological elements; (b) sensory values, including aesthetics, natural beauty and visual perception; and (c) associative values, including cultural and historic values and landscapes that are widely known and valued by the immediate and wider community for their contribution to a sense of place. Multiple values contribute to landscape. Primarily, landscape is the expression of natural processes and human activity in and on the land. However, it is also a function of how people perceive the results of this interaction. Those values considered relevant in a Marlborough context are identified in (a) to (c) of the policy. Landscapes may have one or more of these values. The criteria are derived from national and international landscape assessment criteria. More detail on what constitutes the values in (a) to (c) and how the values are assessed is included within the report “Marlborough Landscape Study August 2015” undertaken by expert landscape consultants. The Council will use these values as the basis of any assessment of landscape. [RPS] Policy 7.1.2 – Define the boundaries of significant landscapes using the following methods: (a) land typing; (b) contour line; (c) contained landscape features; (d) visual catchment; and/or (e) land use. The identification of significant landscapes requires the extent or boundary of these significant landscapes to be identified. This policy identifies the methods that will be used to establish the boundaries, as follows: 7 – 3