Page 2600 - Week 07 - Thursday, 18 June 2009
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The issue of wood fire heater smoke is an issue that is often talked about in the electorate. I believe that community education will allow the Tuggeranong community to take its own actions to improve the quality of air. I am aware that if wood heaters are not used properly it can increase emissions by up to a factor of 10. Careless operation typically doubles the emissions. Given this, the correct use of wood heaters by the majority of wood heater users would significantly reduce wood smoke problems.
In the ACT the fact sheets have been made widely available by wood retailers and on the internet. By following some simple steps, we would reduce and minimise smoke emissions. Whilst I will not go through all the tips, I would recommend that all members here are across some of these facts so that, when we are dealing with constituents regarding this issue, we can take on a community leadership role and educate those who make contact with us.
One of the first tips is around purchasing your firewood from a licensed provider; storing it in a dry, well-ventilated space; using kindling to get a good, hot fire started quickly; and not overfilling the wood heater or letting your fire smoulder when not in use. These simple steps are easy to follow and have a potential to greatly reduce the smoke pollution which is the contributor to air quality concerns in the valley.
Members will be aware that the ongoing wood heater replacement scheme is run in partnership with both ActewAGL and the ACT government. I have noticed the advertisements for this program in the Chronicle in recent weeks. The wood heater replacement program provides a rebate to ACT residents of $600 for householders for replacing an old wood heater with a new gas heater. This incentive scheme has been operating since 2004 and allows households to make the switch, if they wish, to gas heaters.
The ACT government wood heater replacement program has been successful in removing over 700 wood heaters from residences in the Tuggeranong Valley. In 2008 there were about 115 wood heaters replaced with the assistance of this rebate. Already this year—and we are only just coming into the coldest months—a further 76 applications have been received.
There are still wood fire heaters being installed across Canberra, and there will be some wood fire heaters being replaced without the assistance of such a rebate scheme. However, without national regulation, community education will have the greatest effect on reducing air pollution.
The 2007 State of the environment report noted:
… the air quality is a problem in Tuggeranong in the winter months due to air temperature inversions, but there is a slight indication that air quality there is improving. This is likely to be due to the ACT Government’s Wood Heater Replacement Program that provides subsidies to ACT households to replace old wood heaters with new gas heaters.
The success of this program is known to nearly 800 residents who have taken up the program. It has been recognised as a success story by the commissioner for the
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