Wairau/Awatere Resource Management Plan A resource consent for land disturbance activities, such as excavation for roads and tracks, is generally required due to the Class VIII land use capability classification of the skifield area. Further rules are used to prohibit the disposal of any solid waste material within the Skifield Zone. Monitoring The Council will monitor, and require the skifield operator to monitor, the effects of skifield activity, including the effects of discharges. The Council recognises the importance of the Rainbow Ski Area in terms of its recreation/tourism role. The skifield is located within a sensitive alpine environment and is managed as conservation land by the Department of Conservation. Management of the skifield area must also be consistent with the underlying status of this land. The Plan acknowledges the importance of skifield activities as well as the sensitivity of the surrounding environment by specifically identifying the area used by the skifield and providing it with a specific zone to ensure that the adverse effects are appropriately managed. The associated rules are constructed accordingly. 12.7 Airport Zone 12.7.1 Issue Recognition of the need for and importance of national, regional, and local air facilities, and providing for them, whilst avoiding, remedying or mitigating any adverse effects of airport activities on surrounding areas. National access to the District for both passengers and freight is provided by Marlborough Airport, with the smaller Picton Airport and Omaka Airfield catering for more localised air traffic. Picton Airport (situated at Koromiko) operates daily commercial commuting flights to and from Wellington. Omaka Airfield lies on the south-western corner of Blenheim, to the west of the Taylor River, and caters for private air traffic, crop spraying, recreational flying, skydiving and gliding, generating a steady level of take-off and landing activity. Marlborough Airport is situated at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Woodbourne, mid-way between Blenheim and Renwick. The modern, quality terminal facilities provide an attractive and important gateway for the travellers arrival in Marlborough District, be it on business or increasingly on holiday as the district’s attractiveness as a tourist destination is consolidated. The maintenance and enhancement of this gateway area is therefore a matter of importance, and further improvements and developments must be pursued with sensitivity. Marlborough Airport occupies an area within Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Woodbourne and shares use of the runway facilities. This combined civilian and military activity means that the airport could be required to operate on a continual basis. Each of the air facilities has the potential to cause significant environmental effects including traffic generation, chemical/ fuel hazard, landscape impact, and most significantly, noise pollution. The operational efficiency and functioning of Marlborough Airport, Base Woodbourne, and Omaka Airfield requires continual on-site maintenance and servicing of aircraft, often associated with significant noise 12 - 22