Wood burner fires soon-to-be illegal in Rotorua

File photo.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is taking the least line of resistance in penalising people using wood burners illegally.

While fines of up to $750 can be enforced for non-compliance, the council says it prefers working alongside those who are trying to comply, but who aren't achieving, before enforcement options are considered.

The council is reminding Rotorua home owners that from January 31, use of wood burners installed before September 1, 2005, will be illegal.

Rotorua Now asked the council what penalties would be incurred for non-compliance.

'When we are phasing in new regulations our focus is always firstly on educating people about the new rules,” says senior regulatory project officer Marion Henton.

She says all coal and multifuel burners will also be illegal to use, regardless of when they were installed.

Use of coal ranges, cookers and chip heaters is already illegal.

To the specific question of penalty/penalties, the council says that under the Resource Management Act penalties varied 'from abatement notices which instruct people to stop breeching the rules to infringement notices (fines) which range vary from $300 to $750. The more serious environment offences cases can result in a prosecution”.

'We always work with those who are trying to do the right thing but aren't quite achieving it before enforcement options are considered,” says Marion.

The council is presently in the process of developing a compliance and enforcement strategy for non-compliant appliances, which includes looking at what other regional councils with similar rules are doing, and have done in the past.

'Over the past 10 years we've been raising awareness about the changes to the rules for the Rotorua Airshed, and this will continue once they come into force.

'If we discover people using the burners illegally, our first action will be to talk to them to ensure they're aware of the rules, and to see how we can help them switch to another form of heating.”

Marion says the council is also offering incentives to help home owners switch to cleaner heat sources.

'There are options for everyone including 10-year loans and, in some cases, free replacement.

'It's the most vulnerable in the community who suffer during wintertime with the high levels of smoke pollution.”

Rotorua still has a way to go but thanks to the thousands of homeowners who have upgraded their old fires, the community is noticing the difference.

Mother of two children and Western Heights property owner Claire phoned to thank the council for cleaning up the air.

'When my children were toddlers, I couldn't take them out for a walk after 3pm in the afternoon as the level of smoke was terrible and it wasn't safe for their health. Everything smelt of smoke.

'My washing on the line. There is less smoke. Now, my boys and I can go bike riding in the wintertime after dinner. We couldn't have done that a few years ago. I can't believe the difference.”

'If anyone has an old burner that needs replacing talk to us about how we can help,” says Marion.

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