25 May 2017

New bylaw for indoor domestic fires

Auckland Council’s Governing Body today approved a new bylaw that sets out rules for how Aucklanders can use their indoor domestic fires.

The Air Quality Bylaw for Indoor Domestic Fires takes effect from 1 June 2017 and its purpose is to re-establish the rules for indoor fires that were in the former Auckland Council Regional Plan: Air, Land and Water, which has now expired.

Under the new bylaw, Aucklanders can still use their open indoor fires and their current wood burners.

However, from 1 June 2017 any new wood burner installed in an Auckland home must meet the regional standards in the new bylaw, in addition to the criteria for new wood burners specified in the national wood burner standards set by central government through the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality.

Also, to minimise smoke and contaminants being released into the air, from 1 JuneAucklanders must not burn any of the following materials in their indoor fires; wet wood, wood and wood products that are painted, wood that is tanalised or treated, fuel with a high Sulphur content (e.g. high-Sulphur coal), household rubbish or green waste.

Mike Sinclair, Manager Social Policy and Bylaws, says the new bylaw will be in place in time for this winter, which creates an opportunity for the council to communicate more effectively with Aucklanders about how they can use their indoor fires responsibly. This will be beneficial towards maintaining good air quality across the Auckland region.

“Like the rest of New Zealand, Auckland’s air quality is impacted by air pollution from several sources, including indoor domestic fires. Central government has established national air quality standards and it is the responsibility of local and regional councils to ensure these are met.

“With the bylaw now approved we are in a better position to help educate Aucklanders about what should and should not be burned in their home fires to minimise harm to their own health, and the health of the environment.”

Sinclair explains that the new bylaw is not as restrictive as the one proposed in 2014, which looked to phase out certain types of indoor fires.

“Back in 2014, Auckland had succumbed to several back-to-back ‘still’ winters, meaning that pollutants sat lower over the region for longer, thus lowering our air quality. Winters since 2014 have not been as still and air quality has improved as a result.

“We no longer have the environmental factors demanding the strict rules for indoor fires that were suggested in 2014, but we do need some rules in order to maintain good air quality and keep building on the improvements in recent years.”

“If you’re looking to install a new indoor fire this winter, the most environmentally-friendly types are gas fireplaces, enclosed wood burners that meet the national wood burner standards, or other types of solid-fuel indoor fireplaces that meet the emission standards in the draft bylaw, such as pellet burners,” Sinclair adds.

Auckland Council undertook public consultation on the Draft Air Quality Bylaw for Indoor Domestic Fires from 27 February to 27 March this year, and public hearings were held in April 2017.

A total of 51 public submissions on the draft bylaw were received, along with feedback from 13 local boards.

To read the bylaw, visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz from 1 June and search ‘Air Quality Bylaw for Indoor Domestic Fires’.

ENDS

What changes from 1 June 2017?

The bylaw does not include any new measures. It regulates the same issues that were addressed by the former Auckland Council Regional Plan: Air, Land and Water.

• You can still use an open indoor domestic fire

• You can still use your current wood burner

• If you replace or upgrade your current wood burner, the new model will need to meet the regional standards in the Air Quality Bylaw for Indoor Domestic Fires and the national wood burner standards set by central government through the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality

• If you replace or upgrade another type of fireplace, such as a multi-fuel fireplace or an open fire, the new model will have to meet the regional standards in the Air Quality Bylaw for Indoor Domestic Fires 2017

• Indoor fireplaces must not discharge contaminants that have negative impacts on human health or on neighbouring properties

• The following materials must not be burned: wet wood; wood and wood products that are painted; wood that is tanalised or treated; fuel with a high Sulphur content (e.g. high-Sulphur coal); household rubbish or green waste.

Read the national wood burner standards within the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality on the Ministry for the Environment website:

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/air/national-environmental-standards-air-quality

Also refer to the roles and responsibilities for managing air quality (including regional councils) on the Ministry for the Environment website:

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/air/improving-air-quality/roles-and-responsibilities

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