MEDIA RELEASE

Done and dusted
For immediate release: Wednesday 11 February, 2009

This summer’s dry and windy conditions have been great for drying washing but no so good for keeping dust a minimum, so Environment Bay of Plenty has reminded home and business owners to avoid activities that may create dust.

Between November 2008 and January 2009, Environment Bay of Plenty took 51 calls complaining about dust which was one call less than last year However, the number of complaints about dust in Tauranga and the western Bay has risen from 54 percent of the total number of calls last year to 80 percent this year.

Common complaints include dust billowing from large earthworks sites and from unsealed yards and driveways within commercial areas, as well as dust problems on residential properties.

Environment Bay of Plenty Pollution Prevention Manager Bruce Gardner said that this could cause not only damage to property but also affect people’s health, particularly those with breathing difficulties and allergies.

“We all like to be outside enjoying the sunshine in summer yet some people can’t sit outside in their gardens because the dust is so bad,” Mr Gardner said. “We therefore urge everyone to take responsibility for dust on their property or place of work, and remember to be considerate to your neighbours. This way everyone can avoid fines and considerable clean up costs,” he said.

Under the Regional Air Plan everyone has responsibility to control dust so that it doesn’t cause problems beyond their property boundary.

Mr Gardner said Environment Bay of Plenty’s pollution prevention team check out complaints, where practical, then work with people to try and resolve the problem.

“If the measures taken aren’t satisfactory then as a last resort abatement notices or fines can be issued. However, we urge people to take action to prevent dust before it becomes a problem,” he said.

Here are Environment Bay of Plenty’s top tips for minimising dust:

avoid disturbing or exposing soil if you think it may cause clouds of dust;

avoid traffic on dusty areas, for example, trucks parking in dusty areas or people speeding along unsealed driveways;

if you’ve got exposed soil, then maintain the moisture levels in the soil to prevent dust (for example, use sprinklers or a hose on exposed soil to dampen it down);

if you have a gravel drive or surface, then consider putting down new gravel, as the new stones don’t cause as much dust or consider sealing surfaces where dust is likely to be an ongoing problem; and

if you have a dusty garden, then dampen it down or stabilise it by sowing grass.

For more advice on how to control dust or what is required of you by the Regional Air Plan rules, call one of the Pollution Prevention team on 0800 368 267.

Ends

For further media information please contact Pollution Prevention Manager Bruce Gardner on 0800 ENV BOP or Senior Communications Advisor Fiona Robinson on 0800 ENV BOP extn 8380 or 021 289 8380.

Background:

Figures for the periods Nov, Dec and Jan for each of the last three years:
07/08 – Total dust complaints = 52, of which 54% were around Tauranga
08/09 – Total dust complaints = 51, of which 80% were around Tauranga

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