The Otago Regional Council has issued a warning about uncontrolled outdoor bonfires in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District, following complaints from the public.
The council's director environmental monitoring and operations, Scott MacLean, said it recently successfully prosecuted three parties for burning prohibited items and discharging objectionable smoke beyond a property boundary.
There have been 55 complaints over outdoor burning received between 1 July and 28 September this year, he said. Of these, 21 related to incidents in the Queenstown Lakes District and 17 in Central Otago.
The Otago Rural Fire Authority is currently operating an open fire season allowing outdoor fires to be lit, provided they meet a range of conditions. If these can't be met, a permit must then be obtained from the authority.
Mr MacLean said in the recent cases ORC prosecuted, prohibited items being burned included poisonous materials such as plastic, refrigerators, washing machines and tyres.
"Burning material that produce toxic smoke is unacceptable, and ORC compliance staff will be particularly vigilant in dealing with these breaches of the outdoor burning rules," he said.
Air pollution and odour from rampant smoke, in the backyard of a house or in the wide open spaces of a farm or lifestyle block, can annoy neighbours and affect people's health, as well as harm the experience many tourists have in Otago, Mr MacLean said.
Breaching the rules can result in an instant fine of $300, and depending on the severity of the incident, other enforcement action such as prosecution may also follow.
The Otago Air Plan contains rules to minimise any impact outdoor smoke might have on people and the environment.
The key rule is that most outdoor fires must be kept at least 50m from any boundary and not put out objectionable smoke to neighbours, beyond the boundary of the property.
Materials that are prohibited to burn
• Tyres, rubber tubes and foam rubber
• Any treated timber including plywood, chipboard, particle board and fibreboard
• Used oil and other petrol related products including oil, diesel and turpentine
• Food waste
• Any chemicals, including garden sprays and agricultural chemicals
• All plastics, including disposable nappies
• Paints of all kinds, including varnish, glues, adhesives, and polyurethanes
Mr MacLean said the wind can carry smoke for some distance, causing problems for people over large areas and, as has been the case in Central Otago, strong winds can fan a fire into an uncontrollable and dangerous blaze. Burning wet material should be avoided due to the large amounts of smoke that can be produced.
The Otago Regional Council relied in many cases on the public contacting it through its Pollution Hotline (phone 0800 800 033) to report nuisance fires. Information provided through the hotline is handled in complete confidence, Mr MacLean said.
