Woodburner opposition ‘about fairness’
In the wake of the resignation of chairman Mark Rogers, the committee set up to combat Environment Canterbury’s woodburner rule says it is still concerned about unanswered questions and a perceived lack of ‘‘common sense’’ on the part of the regional council.
Committee member Doug Cleveland has taken over as chairman of the group, which is still strongly critical of Environment Canterbury (ECan).
Cleveland said he was working closely with ECan, getting worried older people the advice and support they needed, while fellow committee member Charles Roe- buck was still digging for answers.
‘‘We are working for the people of Timaru,’’ Cleveland said. ‘‘We want a balance with ECan, not to fight them.’’
It was about fairness, he said. Committee secretary Tom O’Connor, who is the national president of Grey Power, also announced his resignation last week, saying he would focus on trying to tackle the issue at a national level. He has been replaced by business owner Cath Bakkum.
Rogers, who resigned on Thursday night, said he felt he had ‘‘contributed as much as I can’’.
Roebuck said he still was not satisfied with ECan’s explanations on issues such as why the focus was on woodburners and home heating, rather than on the industrial use of coal. He questioned some of the research which had gone into the air plan.
The home heating rules were ‘‘draconian’’, he said.
ECan has told Timaru residents they have to replace older-style woodburners which are 15 years old or older. Residents intending to put in new fireplaces needed to apply for building consent for lowemission log burners by October 31, or face having to put in more expensive ultra-low-emission burners.
Residents are also able to replace their fireplaces with heat pumps, and subsidies of up to $5000 are available to those wanting to put in either new fireplaces or heat pumps.
Roebuck said he was frustrated by what he perceived to be a lack of communication from the regional council.
O’Connor said last week he had initially approached the woodburner issue as a local problem, but he had soon found similar communities all around the country were facing the same issues.
‘‘It’s not unique to here, though it’s probably as bad here as anywhere. Grey Power have to take it on.’’
Cleveland claimed there were still people in the community who were ‘‘absolutely terrified’’ of ECan.
Roebuck said it was unclear if there was any assistance available for people who could not afford to apply for building consents to the Timaru District Council.
However ECan air quality director Katherine Trought said the available subsidies could be used to pay the building consent fee for a woodburner.
‘‘Note that a heat pump could be installed instead, with no need to lodge a building consent,’’ she said.
‘‘We urge anyone with financial struggles to contact our Customer Services team on 0800 329 276.’’
Subsidies will continue to be available after October 31, for ultra-low-emission burners.
‘‘If we come across a household using a non-compliant burner, we will work with the homeowner to help them understand their options for replacement,’’ Trought said.
‘‘It is unlikely that Environment Canterbury will be actively fining people in winter 2018.’’
When it came to Environment Minister Nick Smith’s pledge to try to introduce a ‘‘grandfather’’ clause into the National Environmental Standards, Cleveland said he took that at face value.