Chimneys in parts of Nelson could be uncapped and have smoke flowing through them before next winter, if a proposal to fast-track the review process develops.
Nelson mayor Rachel Reese has told council staff to skip a step in the process that will cut months off the time it will take to make a change, in the hope that it will mean a plan change will be made before next winter. That will mean home-owners could buy a low-emission wood burner and install it in their home. Currently, no one in Nelson can do that.
The news will delight many home-owners who have been struggling through winter with either high power bills or cold homes. But the proposal isn’t city-wide. Victory and Washington Valley are likely to miss out any change to the Nelson Air Quality Plan because the airshed above those suburbs is too close to the national air standards.
Other areas like Atawhai, Nelson east, Stoke and Tahunanui should be allowed to install burners under the proposal, says Rachel.
“I’m getting emails from people saying ‘I’m really frustrated because the price of ultra-low emission burners is coming down, yet I can’t install one but I can install a pallet burner which has similar emissions,” says Rachel. “If this goes to plan, we’ll still be able to meet the national environmental standard and give people some choice around wood burner options.”
But Rachel admits getting the plan change through before next winter is far from certain. “People can appeal to the environment court and there’s nothing we can do to control that aspect, apart from write a really good, robust plan, and that’s one of the reasons why it takes time and I absolutely understand people frustration with that slowness.
“But at least this way gives it a chance. What it does mean is that we’ll be taking out one of the steps, so we won’t be putting out a draft plan change.”
Woodburner Lobby Group member Melissa Short says they support the move because it will speed up the ability for people to install a fire in their home. “It is a great move. We were asked if we supported that and we definitely did.”
She says the current rules don’t make sense. “We’re not anti-environmental at all, burning wood is sustainable and carbon neutral. At the moment, gas and diesel burners are allowed and wood isn’t, it’s illogical.”
