Air quality in Ashburton is set to improve over the next winter as more people change to cleaner forms of heating in preparation for the enforcement of new air rules from May 2011. Ashburton people are being given a further year to change to a cleaner form of heating, but tough penalties are likely if people break the rules after May 1, 2012.
In February and March 2010, Environment Canterbury’s Clean Heat project will be coming to doorsteps in Ashburton, offering free, no obligation assessments. Since July 2008, the Clean Heat Project has provided financial assistance for insulation and to replace open fires and old woodburners with cleaner heating. The late summer promotion is to make sure people know about the help on offer while they still have plenty of time to change.
Environment Canterbury air portfolio chair, Sir Kerry Burke says that both the rules and incentives for Ashburton are relatively recent and that community buy-in is essential to ensure that the initiatives to improve air quality in Ashburton deliver maximum benefits.
“Canterbury people have consistently told us that clean air is one of their top environmental priorities. Environment Canterbury has been through extensive consultation to arrive at the rules aimed at cleaning up the air in Ashburton,” he says.
“In deciding when and how to enforce the rules, Environment Canterbury councillors felt strongly that people need to weigh up their options if they are going to take such a major step as replacing their heating and it is important that they have sufficient time to decide on the best solution for them,” says Sir Kerry Burke.
In December 2009, councillors agreed to enforce new rules banning the use of open fires and older/non-complying solid fuel burners without resource consent after May 1 2011. From May 2012, breaking the rules could mean a $300 fine for a first offence, escalating to prosecution for repeated offences.
The approach recommended by Council would mean that during the “lead-in year” an official written warning would be issued in most cases. It would state that the householder must comply with the Air Plan rules by May 2012 but that they may continue to use their existing appliance or open fire up to that time.
“The Council made sure that enforcement officers would still be able to use their discretion. Where appropriate, they will also advise on other ways to reduce the impact of burning solid fuel on air quality, such as using dry wood and laying a fire correctly so as to get it burning efficiently as quickly as possible,” says Sir Kerry Burke.
There are proposed exemptions for category A and B heritage homes as listed in the Ashburton District Plan and in the event of a prolonged electricity network power-cut, people are allowed to use their open fires and old burners for emergency heating or cooking.
The Clean Heat Project offers a range of subsidies for householders and landlords including interest-free loans that can be repaid over a ten year period. It also allows homeowners who want to replace their open fire or old woodburner to choose from a variety of Clean Heat approved appliances such as low emission woodburners, pellet fires, flued-gas heaters or heat pumps.
For more information on the Clean Heat Project, phone 0800 EC WARM or visit www.cleanheat.org.nz
For more information on the rules or how to help improve Ashburton’s air, go to www.ecan.govt.nz/air or call Environment Canterbury’s Customer Services on 03 353 9007.
For further information: Sir Kerry Burke, Environment Canterbury Air Portfolio Committee Chair, (03) 355-8104.