Page 2596 - Week 07 - Thursday, 18 June 2009
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Monitoring of this level of fine particles commenced at the ACT Health Monash air quality monitoring site in June 2003. This monitoring shows a regular increase in particle levels during winter, due to emissions from wood heaters. In 2005 and 2006, as part of the wood smoke initiative, a network of specific air monitors which monitor for PM2.5 were set up across the ACT. This information was published by the Chief Health Officer in the 2006 report, as well as in the National Environment Protection Council’s annual report.
In 2004, there were 15 days when the particulate level was above the standard, in 2005 there were 14, in 2006 there were 20 occasions, in 2007 there were eight, and the current unpublished data for 2008 shows that there were four occasions. So, whilst there is an issue, and yes we are trying to deal with it, the number of occasions that we were affected by an excess of that level was very few.
The ACT government acknowledges the potential for significant health benefits from more stringent emission limits for wood heaters. As a former minister for the environment, I can assure you that at ministerial council level the issue is one of considerable importance.
In November 2008, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council, that is the environment ministers council, agreed the need for a nationally consistent regulatory approach to wood heater emissions management. Working across the country on a unified approach to the regulation whilst working locally on community education campaigns is, I believe, the most appropriate and ultimately the most effective way to deal with the issue. As a previous environment minister, I can report that localised efforts by Australian environment agencies to reduce wood heater emissions have reportedly met with limited success. National wood heater regulation, when achieved, will help to send a clear message to the community, retailers and producers of what is acceptable across Australia.
This sort of national regulatory action being explored would establish a consistent regulatory framework that will enable governments to set performance standards for wood heaters, specify an appropriate test method and establish effective appliance certification and auditing procedures. Without a consistent approach, we would end up with a situation where wood heaters would be sold in some jurisdictions and not others.
I do understand and accept that for some individuals the intergovernmental and ministerial negotiations do not operate at the speed at which they would like and that they want fast and localised action. That is not to say that the government is not responding locally. My colleague Ms Burch will, time permitting, describe that shortly.
One of the areas where the ACT government is working with industry and is meeting with success is through working with local firewood retailers. The Environment Protection Authority must license all firewood retailers. Retailers are only able to sell dry seasoned timber. They must provide consumers with information on how to operate that heater correctly, by way of a detailed fact sheet which is also available on the EPA website. Both of these conditions relate specifically to reducing air pollution.
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