Proposed Air Plan notified for public submissions

Tomorrow (28 February 2015) Environment Canterbury is publicly notifying the Proposed Canterbury Air Regional Plan (proposed Air Plan) and inviting submissions.

The proposed Air Plan is the culmination of a long-term process to work with the community on an effective strategy to ensure the region’s air quality meets the national environmental standards.

The proposed Air Plan includes measures to manage air quality through reducing pollution caused by home heating, outdoor burning, industry, odour and dust.

In mid-2014, an Air Plan Review Discussion document was released outlining proposed changes and inviting public feedback. Community meetings were also held to capture the community’s comments on some of the proposed changes. A lot of the feedback related to home heating and this, along with work with our partners and stakeholders, has informed the further development of the proposed Air Plan.

Science shows home heating is still the greatest contributor to winter air pollution in Canterbury and getting rid of smoky chimneys, while still being able to burn wood, is a top priority. In many parts of Canterbury people have already changed to cleaner burning heating options and air quality has been improving. The proposed Air Plan builds on this and introduces further region-wide home heating measures that require people to burn better and transition to cleaner more efficient home heating options over time.

The proposed Air Plan also includes measures to improve the management of urban outdoor burning and rural burn-offs around towns, and it requires new dust and odour management plans to be developed where appropriate.

The community is being invited to have their say on the proposed Plan by making a submission prior to 1 May 2015. Copies of the proposed Air Plan will be available at Environment Canterbury’s Christchurch, Timaru and Kaikoura offices, public libraries and at www.ecan.govt.nz/airplan where online submissions can also be made.

The notification of the Proposed Air Plan is part of Environment Canterbury’s review of the operative Air Plan for Canterbury (Chapter 3 of the Canterbury Natural Resources Regional Plan). Chapter 3: Air Quality of the NRRP provides the management framework for the region and gives effect to the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality. Once the proposed Air Plan becomes operative, Chapter 3 of the Natural Resources Regional Plan will be revoked.

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