Rules on logburners 'softened'

May 6 2011

There is a ban on using open fires and non-complying woodburners in Ashburton, although authorities do not intend to prosecute offenders.

Instead, the Ashburton District Council and Environment Canterbury will focus on educating residents rather than imposing penalties.
There has been confusion in Ashburton this week as the ban officially kicked in on Sunday, despite the Government delaying the introduction of new clean air standards.
Now, while the local ban is officially on the books, the authorities hope an educative approach will see the town meet the target of just three winter air pollution nights by the new deadline, 2016.
ECan commissioner David Bedford said yesterday an incentive programme to encourage people to convert from inefficient and air polluting heating to cleaner forms had not been as effective as hoped.
The two councils had been discussing how they could modify their approach to get better results, including improving communications with the community and using local suppliers and installers.
While these discussions were continuing, the focus of both councils would be on education, rather than on enforcement and imposing penalties.
If ECan received complaints about smoky chimneys, staff would have a conversation with the householder to see what they could do to avoid causing more smoke nuisance, he said.
The commissioner said Ashburton had recorded an average of 15 high pollution nights a year over the past five years and shown no clear improving trend.
"The national environmental standards for air quality have been put in place to improve community health.
"There is a mass of evidence that shows just how detrimental dirty air is to public health and that domestic heating is the major contributor."
He said if the current ban on open fires and old fashioned woodburners was removed, or the date of its application extended, there was only a remote chance Ashburton would reduce its number of high pollution nights in five years.
Ashburton mayor Angus McKay said people needed to change how they heated their homes. For some it would be as simple as using only dry untreated wood.
"We can all do that now and I'm sure we'll notice the improvement straight away. Unfortunately that won't be enough on its own for us to meet the deadline of three high pollution nights by 2016. As a community, we need to come up with other things we can do that can make a difference."
By 2020, Ashburton will be allowed just one high pollution night.
Ashburton business advisor Gerard Gallagher, of Gallagher Grant, said the community should not squander the longer lead-in time because failure to meet the standard would inhibit long-term growth.
"If we do not comply then ECan is forced to decline any resource consent where there is emission to air. It is easier to do a little bit every year over a long period than do a lot in a short period. That is what would happen if the community does not take some responsibility to achieve the target."

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