Council stays on track with Air Quality plan
Posted by Nelson City Council on 24 February 2011
Nelson City Council today decided to make only minor adjustments to the Nelson Air Quality Plan in light of the Government’s decision to extend the deadline for achieving the National Environmental Standards (NES) for air quality.
Council has asked staff to prepare a plan change that will, subject to the Government issuing the revised NES and to consultation and adoption by Council, see the final phase out date of 2013 for burners installed between 2000 – 2003 removed. However the phase out date at the end of this year (1 Jan 2012) that affects around 750 households will remain in place.
The removal of the 2013 phase out date will also mean the Clean Heat-Warm Homes scheme can be ended a year earlier (at the end of the 2011/12 financial year). It is estimated that this will save over $1.2 million in ratepayer funds and a significant amount of staff time.
Mayor Aldo Miccio says “We have made huge improvements in our air quality so far. This is thanks to all the households who have upgraded to cleaner heating in both the open fire and first enclosed burner phase outs. Even under the revised standards, we would have needed to make these changes so it is good to be ahead of the game. However there is still work to be done. Last year we exceeded the permitted air pollution levels seven times but we need to get this down to three by 2016 and one by 2020.
Going by what we’ve achieved so far, the indications are that if we stick with the planned phase out date for the end of this year we should be on track to achieve the targets set by the government. This will allow us to cancel the phase out of burners planned for 2013 as the benefits of this were not as significant.”
Burners installed between 2000-2003 are relatively modern and much cleaner burning than those installed from the 70’s to 90’s. While it is necessary to replace some of them to achieve the 2020 NES target, computer modelling shows this is likely to occur through natural attrition over the next nine years, making the 2013 phase out date unnecessary.
The benefits of improving air quality sooner were also a factor in the decision to retain the phase out date at the end of this year.
“An estimated 1640 people in New Zealand die each year from air pollution related illnesses. By sticking with this year’s phase out date we’ll be set to achieve about 90% of the total health benefits much sooner so we’ll all be breathing healthier air and seeing more of the beautiful blue Nelson skies that we’re famous for all year round,” Mayor Miccio says.
Once the Government releases the amended NES, probably in March, staff will prepare a proposed Plan Change as per Council’s recommendation, which will be released for public submissions before being considered by Council.
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