Page 2597 - Week 07 - Thursday, 18 June 2009
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A retailer must provide information to consumers on the type of wood they sell and where it has come from. These simple measures provide consumers with the information they need to make informed decisions about their wood heater purchases. Community education, combined with local regulations and national standards, has the potential to solve this issue without the more draconian measure of introducing a ban. Further, the government, in partnership with ActewAGL, has for a number of years run the wood heater replacement program and the “don’t burn tonight” campaign.
Every winter there are some in the community who call for a ban on wood fire heaters. We have heard the suggestion made again today. This government has considered this approach but has found that it would be both costly and, we believe, essentially ineffective. In 2000 it was estimated there were about 25,000 wood heaters in the ACT, with 6,000 of those in the Tuggeranong Valley. Many of the heaters were installed at the time of building the house and were manufactured prior to 1992; that is, prior to more stringent wood heater standards being introduced to make heaters more efficient and potentially less polluting. Heaters installed after 1992 would have met this standard and would be more prevalent in the newer suburbs of Tuggeranong, and certainly in Gungahlin. Improvements in slow combustion, fan-supported wood heaters in recent years have seen even more efficiency and resultantly less polluting heaters being installed.
To introduce a ban would no doubt see residents seek compensation regardless of the type of wood heater and how often it is used. It is only through a more consultative approach that a solution involving everyone can be achieved.
As we are heading into the colder months of winter—indeed, I think they have arrived—it is timely that we as an Assembly discuss and acknowledge the issue of air quality in the Tuggeranong Valley, and I again thank Ms Le Couteur for bringing the matter forward. I do remind the Assembly that of all the capitals in Australia we have, by far, the cleanest air, accepting that on relatively few occasions the fine particulate level is above what we would like. The government will continue to work with our colleagues in other jurisdictions, with local retailers and with the community to seek to continue to address this issue.
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (3.49): I am pleased to discuss the matter of public importance today and I thank Ms Le Couteur for raising it.
I am well aware of statements that there has been a decrease in air quality, particularly over the Tuggeranong Valley, in my electorate. I am also well aware of the Greens’ plans to gauge community opinion on the phasing out and ultimate banning of wood heaters, which I am sure underpin Ms Le Couteur’s message here today.
Our cold winters, influenced by high pressure systems, create temperature inversions which make it difficult for air pollutants to disperse through the air evenly. This would explain the view from my lounge room on a cold winter’s morning, looking over the valley and seeing a layer of what appear to be pockets of pollution clearly visible.
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