Rotorua air pollution for July
 
For immediate release: Friday 7 August 2009
 
Rotorua’s air pollution exceeded national standards eight times in July, one more time than in June.
 
So far this winter, Rotorua’s air pollution has been worse than the national standard a total of 19 times, all at the same monitoring site – the residential area of Edmund Road. 
 
Rotorua Air Quality Joint Committee chair Neil Oppatt said the results reinforced the need for action in the community.
 
“People with open fires and wood burners over 15 years old are our worst polluters. There are subsidies available to help people convert to clean home heating,” he said.
 
“Clean home heating methods include heat pumps, pellet fires and clean wood burners. 
Having your house insulated will make it even warmer, meaning you may require even less heating.”
 
Environment Bay of Plenty, supported by Rotorua District Council, has just launched a campaign to encourage Rotorua residents to use or convert to clean heating methods.
 
“It’s important for people to know there are some things they can do to reduce air pollution, and there is support for them to do this,” Cr Oppatt said. 
 
“Polluted air makes people sick. Rotorua has the worst air quality in the North Island, caused mainly by domestic fires. We have to clean it up.”
 
Find out more by visiting www.envbop.govt.nz; or, to learn more about subsidies, having your home insulation and heating assessed for support, and home insulation in your area call 0800 700 550 (Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority).
 
Other ways to reduce pollution include not burning green wood, only burn dry wood, and to stop the backyard burning of rubbish and garden waste.
 
For further media information please contact:
Yvonne Rooney, Senior Communications Advisor, Environment Bay of Plenty ph 0800 ENV BOP(368 267) or 0274 511 541.
Neil Oppatt, chair, Rotorua Air Quality Joint Committee, ph021 708 052. 
Supporting data
 
Environment Bay of Plenty is required under the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards Relating to Certain Air Pollutants, Dioxins, and Other Toxics) Regulations 2004 to report any breach of the ambient air quality standard.
 
Particulate matter (PM10) concentration has exceeded the standard in the Rotorua Local Air Management Area.
 
Values of PM10 (over a 24-hour average) recorded in the Rotorua Airshed – Edmund Road site - above the National Environmental Standard for Air Quality for the month of July 2009.  The National Environmental Standard for 24 hour PM10 is 50 mg/m3.
 
Location        Date    Concentration
Edmund Rd, Rotorua.     04 July 2009    86 mg/m3
Edmund Rd, Rotorua.     06 July 2009    66 mg/m3
Edmund Rd, Rotorua.     07 July 2009    67 mg/m3
Edmund Rd, Rotorua.     08 July 2009    88 mg/m3
Edmund Rd, Rotorua.     10 July 2009    56 mg/m3
Edmund Rd, Rotorua.     16 July 2009    77 mg/m3
Edmund Rd, Rotorua.     17 July 2009    55 mg/m3
Edmund Rd, Rotorua.     28 July 2009    76 mg/m3
 
Source: Environment Bay of Plenty, August 2009
 
ends

© Scoop Media