4 NOVEMBER 2010 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 148 3719

(v) access to areas or sites of historic or cultural significance is important; or

(vi) subdivision, use, or development of land adjacent to the coastal marine area has reduced public access, or has the potential to do so.

(3) Only impose a restriction on public walking access to, along or adjacent to the coastal marine area where such a restriction is necessary:

(a) to protect threatened indigenous species; or

(b) to protect dunes, estuaries and other sensitive natural areas or habitats; or

(c) to protect sites and activities of cultural value to Māori; or

(d) to protect historic heritage; or

(e) to protect public health or safety; or

(f) to avoid or reduce conflict between public uses of the coastal marine area and its margins; or

(g) for temporary activities or special events; or

(h) for defence purposes in accordance with the Defence Act 1990; or

(i) to ensure a level of security consistent with the purpose of a resource consent; or

(j) in other exceptional circumstances sufficient to justify the restriction.

(4) Before imposing any restriction under (3), consider and where practicable provide for alternative routes that are available to the public free of charge at all times.

Policy 20 Vehicle access

(1) Control use of vehicles, apart from emergency vehicles, on beaches, foreshore, seabed and adjacent public land where:

(a) damage to dune or other geological systems and processes; or

(b) harm to ecological systems or to indigenous flora and fauna, for example marine mammal and bird habitats or breeding areas and shellfish beds; or

(c) danger to other beach users; or

(d) disturbance of the peaceful enjoyment of the beach environment; or

(e) damage to historic heritage; or

(f) damage to the habitats of fisheries resources of significance to customary, commercial or recreational users; or

(g) damage to sites of significance to tangata whenua;

might result.

(2) Identify the locations where vehicular access is required for boat launching, or as the only practicable means of access to private property or public facilities, or for the operation of existing commercial activities, and make appropriate provision for such access.

(3) Identify any areas where and times when recreational vehicular use on beaches, foreshore and seabed may be permitted, with or without restriction as to type of vehicle, without a likelihood of any of (1)(a) to (g) occurring.

Policy 21 Enhancement of water quality

Where the quality of water in the coastal environment has deteriorated so that it is having a significant adverse effect on ecosystems, natural habitats, or water-based recreational activities, or is restricting existing uses, such as aquaculture, shellfish gathering, and cultural activities, give priority to improving that quality by:

(a) identifying such areas of coastal water and water bodies and including them in plans;

(b) including provisions in plans to address improving water quality in the areas identified above;

(c) where practicable, restoring water quality to at least a state that can support such activities and ecosystems and natural habitats;

(d) requiring that stock are excluded from the coastal marine area, adjoining intertidal areas and other water bodies and riparian margins in the coastal environment, within a prescribed time frame; and

(e) engaging with tangata whenua to identify areas of coastal waters where they have particular interest, for example in cultural sites, wāhi tapu, other taonga, and values such as mauri, and remedying, or, where remediation is not practicable, mitigating adverse effects on these areas and values.

Policy 22 Sedimentation

(1) Assess and monitor sedimentation levels and impacts on the coastal environment.

(2) Require that subdivision, use, or development will not result in a significant increase in sedimentation in the coastal marine area, or other coastal water.

(3) Control the impacts of vegetation removal on sedimentation including the impacts of harvesting plantation forestry.

(4) Reduce sediment loadings in runoff and in stormwater systems through controls on land use activities.

Policy 23 Discharge of contaminants

(1) In managing discharges to water in the coastal environment, have particular regard to:

(a) the sensitivity of the receiving environment;

(b) the nature of the contaminants to be discharged, the particular concentration of contaminants needed to achieve the required water quality in the receiving environment, and the risks if that concentration of contaminants is exceeded; and

(c) the capacity of the receiving environment to assimilate the contaminants; and:

(d) avoid significant adverse effects on ecosystems and habitats after reasonable mixing;