GDC to oppose air quality plan

Tracy Hicks.
Tracy Hicks.
A fight is brewing between regulatory authorities in Southland over air quality.

The Gore District Council is challenging the validity of Environment Southland's proposed changes to its regional air quality plan, saying its economic assessment fell short of legal requirements and that there were procedural errors and flaws with the proposal's process and public notification.

The council will hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday to consider its submission on the plan but it is asking Environment Southland to withdraw it.

Mayor Tracy Hicks said the issue had galvanised the Gore community.

Residents were worried about the impact of the new plan, to come into force from January 1 next year, which imposes tighter rules on the use of open fires, solid fuel burners and boilers, and bans burning high-sulphur coal, such as that sourced from Kaitangata, in South Otago.

Mr Hicks said residents feared the controls would increase their heating costs and, for some, cooking as they still used coal ranges.

In a report to the council, consultant planner Keith Hovell said Environment Southland had failed to identify potential costs to individuals, as well as how the rules will be enforced.

Gore residents had a high reliance on the use of coal and open fires for heating he said, and meeting the new controls required more than just changing the heating source.

It could require electrical rewiring and new plumbing.

Mr Hovell said the plan's tighter controls were proposed despite the air quality over Gore complying with the National Environmental Standards.

It exceeded the pollution limit only once this past winter.

Mr Hicks said this showed non-regulatory methods were working and he questioned why Environment Southland was being hasty pushing through the plan and imposing regulations.

The deadline for submissions is November 3.

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