Activity Group: Environmental Management • Customer Service— Review of processes on an ongoing basis to improve There were 80 enforcement actions taken in the 2016–17 year. This included six service delivery. prosecutions, 32 abatement notices and 31 infringement notices. The graph below shows the trends in different types of enforcement actions for the last seven years. Statutory Requirements Resource Management Act 1991 • Section 35(2)(d) of the RMA requires the Council to monitor resource consent compliance within the District. • Section 35(5)(i) requires the Council to keep a summary of all written complaints received during the previous 5 years concerning alleged breaches of the RMA or a resource management plan, and the action taken. • The Council must also ensure compliance with the provisions in Council’s policy statements and plans, taking appropriate enforcement action under the RMA where necessary. Local Government Act 2002 • Enforcement of District Bylaws. Activity Levels Emerging Issues and Expected Changes During 2016–17 the Council received 564 Resource Management Act-related complaints. Resource Consent Numbers A significant challenge facing the section is the sheer volume of resource consents, as there are more than 35,000 current resource consents. A number of annual monitoring programmes are undertaken of activities which have been identified as a monitoring priority. The number of monitoring programmes which can be delivered is restricted by the team’s resources. As noted previously in this Group Activity, the Council is increasing its investment in funding for environmental protection. Proposed Marlborough Environment Plan As a result of the notification of the Proposed Marlborough Environment Plan (MEP) the status and rules relating to many activities have changed — and the team’s monitoring programmes are under continual review to reflect these changes as and when they have legal effect. Water Water is a valuable commodity in Marlborough, both environmentally and economically. Increasing water takes are putting pressure on Marlborough’s aquifers and waterways. The introduction and transition of water takes to the 2018-2028 Long Term Plan Page 123