Environment Canterbury (ECan) is welcoming the Minister for the Environment’s review of air quality standards in relation to fine particles or PM10. These particles are produced during solid fuel burning and make up around 80 per cent of winter air pollution in most Canterbury towns and cities.
“The Canterbury community tells us that they want clean, healthy air and Christchurch people have made huge strides since the Clean Heat Project was started five years ago,” said ECan chair of air portfolio committee, Cr Jo Kane. “Around 14,000 households have made the switch to clean heat and better insulation. We want to keep that ball rolling with the same number again making a change.
“Christchurch people have made a significant investment in cleaning up the air and they are now gaining the benefit as pollution levels drop. It is encouraging to see the Minister’s advisory group includes a public health specialist, Dr Deborah Read.
“The national standard was set in 2005 so it is timely to review the timetable, and whether the consequence of not making the 2013 target is appropriate. As it stands there would be a disproportionate effect upon replacement resource consents for industry, hospitals and schools, when domestic heating contributes most to air pollution.
“The Government’s Budget insulation and clean heat package, in combination with ECan’s Clean Heat Project advertising, are generating a lot of calls to ECan’s Customer Services Clean Heat phone lines – 246 in one day recently, a new record.
“Over the six weeks to June 10, we fielded almost 4000 Clean Heat or insulation inquiry calls with many of the callers outside Christchurch interested in the Government insulation package. At this time last year, we were receiving half that number of callers.
“Other towns like Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Ashburton and Timaru are just beginning to change their practices on home heating and we would not want to see that momentum slowed as there is a long way to go. People in these towns can now get help from ECan’s interest-free, Clean Heat Project loan scheme and from July 1 the Government scheme as well.”
For further information: Cr Jo Kane, Chair ECan Air Portfolio Committee, 027 323 2326 or Sir Kerry Burke, ECan Chairman, 0275 425 848.
Or see www.cleanheat.co.nz or www.ecan.govt.nz/Our+Environment/Air/
Also http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/air+quality+standards+be+reviewed