Page 2601 - Week 07 - Thursday, 18 June 2009
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environment and I would say that it has been recognised by a number of residents in the valley who have experienced fewer nights of pollution as a result.
I am aware that the Tuggeranong Community Council has recently put forward the suggestion of a compulsory phase-out of wood heaters across Canberra. Since this was raised in the Southside Chronicle last month, I have received a number of emails and phone calls on this matter from constituents and stakeholders on both sides of the debate. I am keen to hear more feedback from the broader community on this suggestion, while noting the importance of finding a solution that will not unfairly or abruptly disadvantage families or wood-fire related business.
As the Chief Minister outlined, the ACT regulates wood fire merchants in Canberra, and this ensures that consumers make an informed choice when it comes to purchasing their firewood. In this area, we have evidence of a significant drop in firewood sales in the past few years. In 2001 licensed merchants sold 20,740-odd tonnes of firewood. In 2008 this was 15,070 tonnes. That equates to around a 75 per cent reduction in firewood sales. While it is no great statistic for the merchants, it is an indication that Canberrans are indeed reducing their use of wood fire heaters.
Another community education campaign that has met with some success is the “don’t burn tonight” campaign, operating since 2001. It takes into account weather conditions and pollution levels. When the levels are likely to be high, the campaign runs voluntarily to encourage Canberrans to use alternative heating on those cold, still nights. The campaign predominates during June, July and August of each year. “Don’t burn tonight” campaign snippets are played on radio and TV as well as being displayed on the EPA website.
In conclusion, let me say that the residents of my electorate of Brindabella are very well aware of air quality in the Tuggeranong Valley. On the days that we are denied the clear blue skies and the wonderful views to the Brindabellas due to excessive wood heater smoke pollution, we do want something done about it. I think we are slowly getting there through community education and community ownership of the issue, supported by local regulation and incentive programs. Ultimately, I hope to see a nationally agreed approach that sees all Australians protected from particulates generated by wood smoke.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (4.03): I appreciate the opportunity to discuss Tuggeranong Valley’s air quality problems today, given that it is in my electorate and it is an issue I have discussed with many constituents.
The appropriate response to the wood smoke problem is one that needs to consider several factors. Firstly, wood heaters, when run properly, can provide a cheap source of heating. Another advantage of wood heaters is that, when used properly, they emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The problem comes when they are not used properly—for example, if bad wood is being used.
As previously outlined by my colleague Ms Le Couteur, some wood heaters are inefficient in design and never could be run properly. A few wood heaters emitting wood smoke by themselves may not be a problem. For Tuggeranong, however, it
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