MASTERTON people are making a last minute dash to circumvent new smog-busting laws on woodburners by rushing through applications to install soon-to-be outlawed models. Since word has got around that laws are due to come into force in September banning wood burners capable of being shut down at night for overnightburns ? and also ban wetbacks ? 402 applications to put in new fireplaces have been lodged with Masterton District Council. Those trying to beat the new laws have found an ally in Masterton's Mayor Bob Francis, who says the new laws are "a nonsense". At a meeting of the council's resource management committee yesterday, Mr Francis said councillors should resist the law changes, perhaps by framing a by-law to circumvent them. He said although the council was committed to improving air quality, wetbacks were a "great addition" to a home if they were "hooked up properly". As a former plumber he could testify that wetback slashed electricity bills ? a particular burden on households in Wairarapa. "Hot water accounts for about 40 per cent of the electricity people use." Councillor Rod McKenzie said laws were being constantly introduced curtailing things like wood burners and smoking in public places. "Yet I went to the rugby not long ago and just about got bombed out of the stadium by fireworks creating smoke everywhere." Councillor Brent Goodwin said to his mind a few houses each street in town are creating the problems the far-reaching new laws had been designed to beat. On any cold, clear night in winter a handful of homes could be seen belching smoke into the air, probably caused by the burning of wet wood. "They are the one's causing the pollution," Mr Goodwin said. "I can't see why we can't do a little bit of observation ? send someone out to do a survey. "It's blatantly obvious to me that we are looking at a few dozen problem households." The new laws will not affect existing woodburners, only new ones. District planner Sue Southey said of the 402 applications recently received for new wood burners "99 per cent" were for models incorporating wetbacks.
