Queenstown and Arrowtown residents have been advised by the Otago Regional Council to consider updating their heating appliances and improving their home insulation ahead of the Air for Otago (Air Plan) becoming operative from January 1.
ORC policy and planning director Fraser McRae said once plan change 2 to the regional air plan becomes operative, clean air and heating appliance standards for Otago will rise in the years to come.
All seven appeals regarding the air plan change had been resolved through mediation and accepted by the Environment Court, Mr McRae said.
The air plan divides Otago into three air zones and sets the standard for the type of heating appliances that can be installed.
Mr McRae said in air zone 1, which included Arrowtown, new installations of domestic heating appliances needed a maximum PM-10 discharge standard of less than 0.7g/kg and greater than 65% thermal efficiency.
Throughout air zone 1 existing appliances with a maximum PM-10 discharge of 1.5g/kg or higher were permitted until January 1, 2012, after which they were prohibited.
Queenstown and Kingston were in air zone 2, where there was a maximum PM-10 discharge standard of under 1.5g/kg for new installations.
Heritage buildings and commercial premises had to apply for permits if they wanted to use open fires, Mr McRae said.
The public were advised to consider their neighbours when lighting fires outdoors - in air zones 1 and 2 it was prohibited to burn outdoors within 100m of any dwelling or other property.
ORC policy and resource planning committee chairman Cr Michael Deaker said the changes had been through consultation over the past couple of years.
"We're mindful of the severity of winter in Central Otago and the policy was a pragmatic response to poor air quality in parts of Otago.
"We're currently backing it with the Clean Heat Clean Air appliance and insulation programme, which provides subsidies for households in some high pollution towns to upgrade to clean heat appliances and improve insulation," Cr Deaker said.
For more information about air pollution in Otago, discharge from heating appliances and the National Environmental Standard for Air Quality see www.orc.govt.nz
