Chapter 10 - Natural Character 10.0 Natural Character 10.1 Introduction The Resource Management Act 1991 (the Act) (Section 6(a)) declares as a matter of national importance, the preservation of the natural character of the coastal environment (which includes the coastal marine area), wetlands, lakes, rivers and their margins, and the protection of them from inappropriate subdivision, use and development. Chapter One of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (NZCPS) expresses ways in which the natural character of the coastal environment can be preserved. It links natural character preservation with a number of other protection matters. An example is Policy 1.1.3(a) of the NZCPS which introduces the protection of “... landscapes, seascapes and landforms ...”. While the protection of outstanding landscapes is a matter of national importance in its own right under Section 6(b) of the Act, it is also addressed in the preservation of natural character, the combination of these matters assist in the promotion of sustainable management of natural and physical resources. Natural character can generally be described as being those characteristics (qualities and features) of a particular environment. The particular environment in the case of this chapter of the Plan, is the coastal environment and freshwater environments or wetlands, lakes and rivers and their margins. The natural character of the coastal environment and freshwater bodies is comprised of a number of key elements: • Coastal or freshwater landforms; • Indigenous flora and fauna, and their habitats; • Water and water quality, including marine and freshwater ecosystems; • Scenic or landscape values; • Cultural heritage values; and • Habitat of trout and salmon. All parts of the East Marlborough Coast from Rarangi to Willawa Point have some or all of these qualities and to that extent, all have some degree of natural character. One management issue to be addressed is the location of the inland boundary of the coastal environment. In some cases this will be clear in others it will be a matter for interpretation. The preservation of natural character and protection from inappropriate subdivision, use and development will generally be achieved by a process which addresses those identified components of natural character. The process used for addressing natural character involved the identification of qualities or components of natural character (above) and determining ways in which the Plan specifically manages these. A number of the policies and methods of implementation for preserving natural character are contained within other sections of this Plan. 10 - 1