The following open letter was published in Napier Courier, Hastings Leader and Hawke’s Bay Today on 4 February 2009 to clarify matters and concerns around the air quality and home heating proposals.
AN OPEN LETTER
TO: Residents and Business Owners in the Napier and Hastings Area
You are probably aware of the community’s concern about new home heating rules proposed by Hawke's Bay Regional Council. This is an update for people who will be affected by the proposed rules.
In December the Regional Council sent letters to homes likely to be affected by the proposed rules for fires and wood burners. Unfortunately, there were some errors in the information and there is now confusion about how the new rules will apply. Council unreservedly apologises for the errors and the resulting confusion. We hope that the information here helps you to understand the situation more clearly and to take the best action for a warm, dry and healthy home.
Why is this being done?
By law, Central Government requires all Regional Councils to put into action the National Environmental Standard (or NES) for air quality by 2013. This law was made in 2004. It sets a limit for the amount of fine dust particles (called PM10) in the air we breathe. From 2013, every town and city in New Zealand can only exceed this pollution limit once a year or local industry will be penalised. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is concerned about the effects of this process on the community, and continues to raise these concerns with central government.
How does this affect me?
Simply put, home heating appliances must meet stricter rules and reduce the amount of smoke coming out of chimneys. Last winter, Napier went over the government limit 5 times and Hastings 28 times. We know that 80 – 90% of this pollution comes from home heating (wood burners and open fires) which potentially affects the health of us all, especially the young and the elderly.
For your own peace of mind, you will need to check your wood burner make, model and date of manufacture to know what or if it should be changed.
The Regional Council is proposing new rules to try to meet this law. These new rules will apply to homes in the Napier and Hastings areas, but are subject to consultation and may change as a result of submissions.
Key Points in the Proposed Rules
- Napier & Hastings (includes Taradale, Havelock North, Flaxmere and parts of Clive)
- No new open fires allowed.
- Open fire or wood burner put in before 31 December 1995 - use it UNTIL 1 January 2011; homeowners with open fires and old burners will then need to install a clean heating option.
- Open fire or wood burner put in between 1 January 1996 and 31 August 2005 - use it UNTIL 1 January 2012. Homeowners with open fires and old burners will then need to install a clean heating option.
- Any other fire or burner that does not meet national standards – use it UNTIL 1 January 2013. Note: building inspectors at your local city or district council have been checking that new installations comply since 2004.
- Hastings
- If you are building a home or currently don’t have a wood burner in your home, you will not be able to install one that does not comply with new rules. Inefficient wood fires will make the government’s target harder to reach; a range of other clean heating options is now available.
- Council proposes a lower emission limit for burners in Hastings (0.7grams of smoke for every kg of wood versus the Government’s emission standard of 1.5g/kg). Council considers that this can allow more homes to have a burner while still reducing overall pollution, however this provision could change as Council investigates further with the help of manufacturers.
- “Time of Sale”
- When the Regional Council adopted the draft plan change on 10 December 2008, it included a new ‘time of sale’ rule. If the rule becomes law, then once a property is sold, it will prevent the use of any existing wood burner that doesn’t meet the standard. There was some confusion about whether or not this rule had immediate effect – this is currently only in our proposal and has no immediate effect. Property purchasers can continue to use these wood burners until the rule is finalised with no immediate need to upgrade. We sincerely apologise for this error and the concern it prompted.
What if we do nothing?
Some people have said that the air pollution problem isn’t too bad, that the solution is not affordable and isn’t necessary here in Hawke’s Bay. Council is very aware that ignoring this law would create a bigger problem. Local industries that need permits (resource consents) to release minor amounts of dust, smoke and fumes into the air would not get approval and would be unable to operate. This could quickly stop some of our major food processors and manufacturers operating, potentially resulting in major job losses within our region.
What did the Regional Council consider?
Above all, Regional Councillors’ decisions have emphasised the need for homes to be warm, dry and healthy in winter. With that in mind, Council has invested time and money over the last 3 years to clearly understand the air pollution issue. Council has monitored air throughout the region to find out how much pollution there is and where the main problems are. The areas most affected by pollution have been identified. Council has then looked at the issue from many angles, considering who would be affected and in what ways before formulating the proposed policy for home owners.
Council also proposes a funding assistance package made up of grants or interest free loans for heating. Home owners will be able to couple Government grants for insulation with Regional Council clean heat grants and loans for a total home heating solution.
What’s next?
Because of the impact the proposed plan change can have on households, Council is seeking some changes to the government’s National Environmental Standard. Council has requested a meeting with the Minister for the Environment, and will ask to move the date for meeting the government’s rules from 2013 to 2020. This would give more time for Hastings and Napier people to meet the standard. It would also be more affordable for household pockets in what is a time of financial uncertainty for many people. Councillors are also working with local mayors and MPs to try to achieve this.
What can you do?
You can find out more. The Regional Council has up-to-date information on our website (look under Clean Heat). As well as the proposed rules, we cover the best way to light and look after your fire, the use of dry ‘good wood’, various heating options and a list of approved products.
Because this situation results from government regulation, we encourage you to write and tell local MPs your views. You can also make a submission to the Regional Council on any part of the proposed rules with which you agree or disagree. Phone (06) 835-9200 to ask us for a submission form, or you can write a letter or send an email to cleanheat@hbrc.govt.nz .
Please note: the deadline for submissions on the proposed rules has been extended to give people more time to consider this important issue. The deadline is now 4pm, Monday 30th March 2009.
Yours sincerely
Cr Eileen von Dadelszen
Environmental Management Committee Chairman
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council |
Andrew Newman
Chief Executive
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council |
Your Regional Councillors are:
| Eileen von Dadelszen |
Hastings |
| Alan Dick |
Napier |
| Tim Gilbertson |
Central Hawke’s Bay |
| Neil Kirton |
Napier |
| Ewan McGregor |
Hastings |
| Liz Remmerswaal |
Hastings |
| Kevin Rose |
Hastings |
| Christine Scott |
Napier |