Wairau/ Awatere Resource Management Plan 9.12 Objectives and Policies Objective 1 To protect the natural character of the East Marlborough Coast from the adverse effects of marine farming. Policy 1.1 Exclude marine farming activities from areas of high ecological or conservation values. Policy 1.2 Scrutinise applications for marine farming activities with respect to their effects (including adverse cumulative effects), on ecosystems, habitats, recreational values and landscape values. Policy 1.3 Avoid the allocation of coastal space for marine farming where there is a significant adverse effect on: Iwi values; Outstanding landscapes; Areas of ecological value; Navigation and safety; Recreation users; Marine habitat sustainability; and/ or Other adjoining activities including those on land. The objective and policies seek to provide guidance and control on the individual and cumulative adverse effects of marine farms. The values associated with the coastal marine area may be easily threatened without some consideration of the effects of occupying and using coastal space for marine farms. 9.13 Methods of Implementation Rules Marine farms will be subjected to assessment criteria designed to protect a wide range of values in the coastal marine area. 9.14 Issue Adverse effects from inappropriate occupation and structures in the coastal marine area. The only structures in the coastal marine area along the open coast in this plan area occur adjacent to Lake Grassmere. These structures comprise the old coastal water intake pipeline and protection structure (now used for stormwater discharge), the main coastal water intake pipeline and support structure (pipeline jetty) and, coastal water intake pipeline. The main restriction on building foreshore structures is the wild nature of the coastline. Any foreshore or seabed construction would need to be extremely large and strong to be able to withstand the continual high energy forces of the waves, currents and sediment movement. Such structures can alter both the physical processes and ecology of the coastal marine area. Therefore any proposals will need to consider the impact of their 9 - 12