On 17 March 2010, the Hawke's Bay Regional Council issued its Decisions on Air Quality Change 2 and Variation 2. This follows completion of the Hearing of submissions held in November 2009.
On this page
Council decisions address submissions on a topic by topic basis and provide reasons for each decision made. A FAQ Sheet describing key elements of Change 2 and Variation 2 has been prepared.
Key decision documents
WARNING: These files are quite large. If you have any problems downloading please contact us.
- Council Decisions and Reasons, PDF File - 1.3Mb
- Decision Index (sorted by Decision #), PDF File - 1.5Mb
- Decision Index (sorted by Submitter #), PDF File - 1.8Mb
- Minutes of Hearings, PDF File - 178Kb
- Change 2 as amended by Decisions, PDF File - 3.3Mb
- Variation 2 as amended by Decisions, PDF File - 3.2Mb
- Napier Airzones, JPG File - 3.3Mb
- Hastings Airzones, JPG File - 4.4Mb
- Complete Decision Package (by Decision #), PDF File - 5.2Mb
- Complete Decision Package (by Submitter #), PDF File - 4.5Mb
Change 2 and Variation 2 introduce new, and change existing regional planning provisions for air quality in Hawke’s Bay. The new provisions control domestic woodburners, and change existing provisions controlling discharges to air from industrial and trade premises.
Change 2 and Variation 2 were publicity notified on 10 December 2008. The submission period was open until 30 March 2009. A total of 195 submissions were received from a range of groups and individuals raising over 1100 individual points. 23 Further submissions were received.
Hearings were held in early November 2009 to consider all submissions. The hearings gave submitters wishing to be heard, an opportunity to talk about their concerns and provide evidence in support of their submissions. Hearings were conducted by a panel of three Councillors and a Maori representative.
Council’s decisions and associated reasons are set out in the Decision Document. Decisions are generally grouped by common themes (or ‘topics’).
If you know the submitter name and/or number, then use the Decision Index by Submitter# to track down the corresponding Decision#. Then look up the Decision# in the Decision Document.
If you know the Decision#, then you may refer directly to the corresponding Decision# in the Decision Document; or you may choose to refer to the Decision Index by Decision# to identify the relief originally requested by the respective submitter(s) and further submitter(s).
Napier and Hastings Airsheds
Both the Napier and the Hastings Airsheds have been divided up into two Airzones, referred to as Airzone 1 and Airzone 2. Airzone 1 generally covers the urban areas of Hastings, Flaxmere, Havelock North and Napier (Airzone 1 covers those areas most affected by small particulate (PM10) contaminants). Airzone 2 covers the remaining areas within the Napier and Hastings airsheds.
Hastings Airshed and Airzones
Napier Airshed and Airzones
Non complying burner phase out dates
The following burner and open fires phase out dates apply within the Napier and Hastings Airzones:
NOTE: a non compliant burner is a burner which exceeds the emission limit of 1.5 g/kg specified in the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards Relating to Certain Air Pollutants, Dioxins, and Other Toxics) Regulations 2004.
Burner emission limits
The following burner emission limits apply within the Napier and Hastings Airsheds:
NOTE 1: Woodburner emission limit of 1.5g/kg applies to all properties less than 2ha regardless of whether property is within or beyond an Airshed. This limit is specified in the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards Relating to Certain Air Pollutants, Dioxins, and Other Toxics) Regulations 2004.
Outdoor burning
For outdoor burning during the months May – August (inclusive) within the Napier and Hastings Airsheds, a resource consent must be obtained from the Regional Council prior to burning occurring. An exception to this is if the outdoor burning is on horticultural production land for the purposes of disease control or orchard/vineyard redevelopment, in which case, no resource consent is required.
NOTE 1: Outdoor fires used for cooking (such as bbqs, pizza ovens, hangi or braziers) are permitted all year round.
NOTE 2: Napier City Council has an existing outdoor burning bylaw which prohibits outdoor burning in residential areas. Outdoor burning rules do not override territorial local authority bylaws.
The following key reports were used in the preparation of the Air Quality Plan Change and Variation: