Page 3355 - Week 11 - Thursday, 22 September 1994
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We will continue to develop innovative programs, coordinated across government, to produce an integrated approach to environmental management. That is very important to our city. We have already brought forward much new legislation to the Assembly which, to use a pun, is a landmark. However, the development of further legislation is complex. It involves consultation and public feedback, and it will, necessarily, take some time. When I talk to people from other cities and other areas I find that they do not have the public consultation that we have in this city. We are very lucky that that is part of the Government's program. While a second discussion document is soon to be released, the Government has not delayed in effecting amendments to existing legislation where necessary.
Members will recall the recent amendments to the Air Pollution Act which have enabled improved management of air quality in Canberra, particularly during the autumn and winter months. The amendments responded to concerns about emissions from incorrectly operated solid fuel heating appliances and the lead content of leaded petrol. We all fear, on very frosty winter nights, driving through Canberra and seeing pockets of smoke caused by fuel heaters. We hope that the plan the Government has put in will bring it under control. These amendments also bring all domestic solid fuel burning equipment under the scope of the Act and provide for compliance certification of new domestic solid fuel heating appliance models manufactured in or imported into the ACT from 17 December 1993. This will be an improvement on the air quality in winter in Canberra. The amendments give effect to the Government's commitment to introduce national emission standards for new solid fuel heating appliances. I sat on the committee with Mr Moore and we did a lot of work on solid fuel heaters. There is not a lot that can be done, although an excellent pamphlet has been put out by the Government showing people how to operate these fuel heaters. We cannot force people to do that; but, from December 1993 on, there will be an improvement in heaters brought into the ACT or manufactured here. I congratulate Mr Moore on the fact that he worked with me on that committee. I cannot remember who else was on the committee, Mr Moore. We worked very hard on that.
One of the most interesting statistics from yesterday's State of the Environment Report is the massive fall in recorded lead levels. This was a worry, particularly when a count was taken in Northbourne Avenue early in the morning when there was peak-hour traffic. The lead levels in the air were always a worry. From a peak in Civic of about eight micrograms per cubic metre in 1982, lead levels have dramatically fallen to well under half a microgram in 1994. A lot of this is as a result of unleaded petrol, but the hard work of the Government ensured that this happened. This is a full microgram under the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines. There is absolutely no doubt that this is because of the introduction of unleaded petrol in 1986 and other controls on lead emissions. Of course, as old cars are sold and new cars come onto the market, I think it will fall even further. Madam Speaker, our lead levels had fallen to below the recommended maximum level before the Federal Government introduced the unnecessary tax on leaded fuel last year. The way in which this Government has gone about progressing the new integrated environment protection legislation and the amendments to the Air Pollution Act is testimony to its willingness to listen and to act on community concerns.
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