Wood and coal burning will be totally banned from Christchurch homes by 2020 if an historic Environment Canterbury decision made today holds.
It is the furthest Environment Canterbury has gone in its fight to clean up the South Island city's wintertime smog which is estimates to contribute to the deaths
of up to 70 people each year.
Thousands more local residents suffer respiratory and lung conditions from the smog, caused mostly by domestic wood and coal burning.
Today's decision sits alongside the announcement of a proposed $32 million Environment Canterbury incentive scheme which would help people insulate their homes and switch to cleaner heating.
"What we have signalled today is an end to wood and coal burning. Enough is enough," said Environment Canterbury chairman Richard Johnson.
The decision will open for public comment later this year, when the proposed Natural Resources Regional Plan air chapter for Canterbury is notified.
The chapter is scheduled to go to Environment Canterbury's regional planning committee next month, ready for adoption by the full council in May.
Once adopted, the chapter can be publicly notified for public submissions.
Once notified, Environment Canterbury's proposed air chapter, the formal words behind today's decision, would have the following effects in Christchurch.
# The installation of solid fuel burners in brand new homes is banned.
# Open fires are banned from use from 2005.
# No new solid fuel burners can be installed in any home from 2005.
# All enclosed solid fuel burners are banned once they are 15 years old, but not before 2010.
The home heating restrictions only apply in Christchurch.
The air chapter will also contain rules controlling industrial and rural emissions across wider Canterbury.
- CHRISTCHURCH STAR
