Keeping our air clean

by GW Administrator 11 Oct 2011, 12:00pm


How should we maintain and enhance the region's air quality?

Please view the air quality issues and goals poster.

We want to know:

  • Do you agree with how we’ve described the natural resource issues?
  • Will our response (the goals) address the issues?
  • What rules and support (i.e. information, education, funding) are needed in the regional plan to ensure the goals can be met.

Additional questions:

  • How should we deal with wood fires in the home?
    - Ban open fires?
    - Restrict the use of older wood burnder in towns and areas with air problems?
  • Should we do more to lobby the government to reduce motor vehicle pollution?
  • Are our current controls on industry adequate? Could we do more? 

Relates to document Keeping air clean - poster Relates to document: Keeping air clean - poster (4.388 MB)

Comments (4) Expand All Replies

Bike for Life Comment 1 3 Nov 2011, 10:58 AM

Ban open fires

Promote clean burning fire boxes

pbear Comment 1.1 22 Nov 2011, 3:14 PM

all fires should be banned

Splotch Comment 2 5 Nov 2011, 8:02 AM

Is the GWRC on the right track when it comes to air quality? Absolutely not.

I have had to move house twice in the Greater Wellington region to get away from problem fires. The GWRC was absolutely deaf to my cries for help.

There are 2 areas where it needs to lift its game. 1. Domestic woodfires and 2. Rural burning off.

1. Domestic woodfires

The problem of winter fires is mostly ignored. It is under monitored, and under reported. I was glad that monitoring in Kapiti finally occurred. It was however only 1 site. That is not enough, and not done often more…

 

pbear Comment 3 22 Nov 2011, 3:33 PM

I completely agree with Splotch.

But there is a problem with air quality even directly on the coast. Even when there is a southerly blowing and it is only the one row of houses along the coastal road, it can sometimes be hard to breath (especially in winter)!!!

This has nothing to do with the salt from the sea (as was sometimes cited - contrary to this European studies have found the sea air as such to be very beneficial, especially for those with lung disease). And when I lived in Island Bay, you could see the winter smog up from more…

 
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