A joint approach by the Otago Regional Council and the Cosy Homes Trust is a ''fantastic'' step forward to improve the heating and insulation of Milton homes.
That comment came on Friday from trust project manager Jordana Whyte, of Dunedin, after a recent decision by the council to fund a 50-home heating and insulation pilot project.
''I'm thrilled. I'm very happy that they have agreed to do this,'' Ms Whyte said.
The trust also appreciated strong subsidy support for the same issues in Milton from the Clutha District Council.
Milton faces winter air pollution problems, and some residents also struggle with fuel poverty and chilly homes, some of which are without insulation and compliant burners.
Ms White said a recent national study had highlighted widespread winter fuel poverty problems, which were ''appalling and absolutely unacceptable''.
At a recent meeting, the council backed a recommendation from council chief executive Peter Bodeker that the council accept a proposal for the trust to ''lead and administer'' a pilot programme targeting at least 50 homes in Milton that have non-compliant heating appliances, and/or are under-insulated or have no insulation.
The trust's goals are to replace 50 non-compliant burners in Milton, to insulate 50 homes in the town, as well as to improve air quality, and ''improve the health and warmth of homes'' in Milton.
The trust also seeks to develop a Clean Heat/Clean Air programme that can be scaled and replicated across Airzone 1 towns in Central Otago.
''Cosy Homes has selected Milton as the pilot town for this joint initiative, as it considers that it has the highest social needs of all the towns in Airzone 1 and Milton,'' Mr Bodeker said in his report.
The trust was proposing to use part of the council's Clean Heat Clean Air reserve, which amounts to $500,000, to ''achieve its goal'' of replacing 50 non-compliant burners in the town.
This was in line with the council's programme of providing a subsidy to anyone in Airzone 1 and Milton who was replacing a non-compliant burner with a compliant heating appliance (burner, heat pump etc).
The subsidy provided was $1500 if a community services card was held, otherwise it was $1200.
The trust would report to the council on a monthly basis on its Milton activity.
Council regulatory committee chairman Bryan Scott, who has repeatedly spoken out at council meetings over air quality issues, yesterday welcomed the council's decision.
Collaboration was ''the way of the future'' if the council wished to achieve a ''quantum shift'' in dealing with difficult home heating and air pollution challenges, Cr Scott said.
