Environment Canterbury supports revised deadline for air standards

Environment Canterbury commissioner, David Bedford, has welcomed the Government’s announcement of extended deadlines for meeting the national Environmental Standards for air quality, made earlier this month.

Environment Canterbury, like other regional councils throughout the country is responsible for monitoring and enforcing air quality standards.

“The Government has taken a pragmatic approach by keeping the ultimate goal the same, but within a more realistic and achievable timeframe. This sends the clear message that air quality is as important as ever, while recognising that the necessary improvements will take time,” said Commissioner Bedford.

“Environment Canterbury will use that time to work with territorial authorities and their communities to find ways of achieving the standards in the most cost effective ways and will welcome new innovations that continue to emerge. As part of that process, we are discussing with local councils and residents what actions they need to take and the options that are available to them – including how initiatives such as the Clean Heat Project may operate in future.”

The health-based limit for particulate pollution, mainly caused by home heating, remains unchanged in the revised standards, however Christchurch, Timaru, Ashburton and Kaiapoi must now reduce the number of exceedences of this limit to three per year by 2016, and to just one by 2020. Rangiora, Geraldine and Waimate have until 2016 to achieve a single exceedence.

Environment Canterbury director regulation, Kim Drummond, says that the new deadline may seem distant, but there is still a lot of work to be done to improve air quality in Canterbury towns and cities.

“The Minister was quite clear that ideally, clean air targets could be met ahead of time and we are keen to capitalise on the progress that has been made to date in order to achieve that aim.”

“It is important to emphasise that the extended date for meeting the National Environmental Standards for air quality is separate to the requirements of the region’s air plan. Although both aim to improve air quality, the air plan and its rules are a key part of the strategy to motivate people to change the way they heat their homes to ensure the National Environmental Standards will be met,” he says.

The ban on the use of open fires and burners over 15 years old will still apply from April to September each year in Christchurch and all year round in Kaiapoi.

Open fires and burners over 15 years old in Ashburton will be banned all year from May 2011. A similar ban will apply in Rangiora from May 2012.

Environment Canterbury has recently renewed its commitment to working with the city and district councils to find the best way to help achieve the air quality standards in time. This will involve working with the Christchurch City Council and Waimakariri, Ashburton and Timaru district councils on how to communicate what their communities need to do to help improve air quality.

Mr Drummond said that although enforcement of the air plan rules will be used to help improve winter air quality, education will play a major part in the regional council’s approach.

“Education remains our principle tactic to the motivate people to comply with the air rules this winter. How best to achieve compliance in future is a key issue that is still being discussed with local councils.

“Our staff are mindful of the effects of the earthquake on Christchurch and Kaiapoi in particular and will take that into account considering what action might be appropriate where chimney smoke is causing a nuisance. We certainly do not wish to add to the stress levels of people in earthquake damaged homes,” says Mr Drummond.

“However, the last two winters have been the cleanest on record for Christchurch and we will be working closely with local councils to build on that success as we assist centres throughout the region towards meeting the revised air quality standards.”