Discussion over pellet burners at council meeting

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Rotorua district councillors have had a lively discussion about pellet burners and the Air Quality Control Bylaw review.

The discussion took place at the Rotorua Lakes Council's Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee meeting today. Karen Parcell, a senior policy analyst from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, accompanied by Rosemary Viskovic from the district council, gave a presentation on a review of the bylaw.

Ms Parcell said the current bylaw had ensured the replacement or removal of 505 burners under the current Point of Sale rule and had phased out the use of about 850 indoor open fires in Rotorua.

The bylaw was developed in 2010 between the district and regional council to help improve air quality in Rotorua.

Its purpose was to reduce emissions from certain domestic burners to ensure the Rotorua Airshed met the air quality standard set in the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality.

Currently the bylaw requires a vendor to remove or replace non-complying burners when their house is sold.

There is no rule that requires removal of non-complying burners in houses not being sold.

Ms Parcell said they had spoken to district councillor Charles Sturt, who with his knowledge in real estate, said the current point of sale rule "is working well as it is".

A proposed change to the "new burner" rule - where installations of new burners would be limited to pellet burners - caused a lot of discussion.

Mayor Steve Chadwick said she was concerned about pellet burners "as people may try to burn other things" and was also concerned about the expense of pellets.

Community board chairman Phill Thomass shared the same concerns.

"Pellet burners are not without issues. They are expensive to maintain and need to be serviced on a regular basis."

Heated questioning came from councillor Rob Kent to Ms Parcell.

Mr Kent said he was worried new technology would come along and the bylaw would prevent them being used.

Mrs Chadwick also asked if the report had looked into geothermal heating schemes.

Two further recommendations were made; a report to the council on the social and economic impacts of the bylaw, particularly on low-income and rented households, prior to the adoption of the bylaw, and that an updated report be provided to the council on the costs and feasibility of distributive geothermal home heating.

The recommendations were carried unanimously by the committee. Bylaw submissions open to the public on May 26. The bylaw must be reviewed by September.

For more information go to www.rotorualakescouncil.nz.