Residents support cleaning up city’s air

More than 70 people attended an open day to discuss the draft Air Quality Control Bylaw last week – the majority supporting measures to clean up Rotorua’s air according to Environment Bay of Plenty and the Rotorua District Council staff.

Consultation on the bylaw is underway and if approved, the bylaw may affect how people heat their homes if they live within the Rotorua Urban Airshed – an area of the city identified as having the worst air quality. Submissions close on 7 May 2010.

Environment Bay of Plenty Group Manager Strategic Development Mary-Anne Macleod said the open day provided an excellent opportunity for residents to clarify exactly how the draft bylaw would affect them.

“There was a general misunderstanding that woodburners would be phased out. This is not the case. The draft bylaw states that non-compliant solid fuel burners must be removed or replaced only when a property is sold.

She said some homeowners were also worried about the cost of replacing a non-compliant solid fuel burner should they choose to do so.

“Incentives will be available to homeowners who choose to replace their non-compliant solid fuel burner, such as loans to help pay for a new clean heat system.”

Ms Macleod said there was little concern about the use of open fires being phased out by September 2014. “People were actually concerned this wasn’t happening sooner. The general feeling was that open fires are ineffective and obsolete.”

The draft Air Quality Control Bylaw has been developed by Environment Bay of Plenty and the Rotorua District Council to help clean up Rotorua’s air. Air quality in Rotorua is the worst in the North Island as measured by the Ministry for the Environment.

Poor air quality is bad for your health, particularly in very young and elderly people.

For more information about the draft Air Quality Control Bylaw and a submission form go to www.rdc.govt.nz, email submissions@rdc.govt.nz or contact the Rotorua District Council on 07 348 4199.

ENDS

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