Bylaw has no bite, says resident

Cost must be taken into consideration, a self-styled ‘‘greenie’’ has told council during a verbal submission at the Clean Air Bylaw hearings.

‘‘I think the best you can expect from this bylaw is noncompliance,’’ Laurie Murray said.

During his submission the Tokoroa teacher also said that, while he supported an initiative for cleaner air, he opposed the financial impacts the bylaw would have on residents.

‘‘First is the possibility that the problem is overstated. Most people I talk to are bemused by this proposal because they are of the opinion our air is better than it has been.

‘‘ Waikato Regional Council environmental chemist Jonathan Caldwell, using two different systems of analysis, found no evidence that Tokoroa’s air is any better or worse,’’ he said.

The results of the test Mr Murray is referring to came to light last year.

Both tests found no evidence to suggest air quality is improving or worsening.

‘‘Most people are surprised that it was not better, many are suspicious and think there might be a dollar in this proposal for someone,’’ he said.

Mr Murray also had concerns about the cost involved in complying with the proposed bylaw.

‘‘To ask these people to fork out perhaps $5000 or more if other compliance issues are tagged on in the way council would like to, is pie in the sky stuff,’’ he said.

In his submission Mr Murray also suggested that any fire place more than 15-years-old that can be dampened down could have that mechanism removed.

‘‘I have since checked my own box and found undoing two screws, about 30 seconds work would remove mine at no cost.’’

Mr Murray had issues with merchants selling wet wood.

‘‘Last year I bought a ute load of split pine wood from a man in Putaruru. When it arrived I was appalled to find it was straight out of the bush.

‘‘I told him that it wouldn’t burn because it was still green.’’