Page 1904 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 6 June 2017
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Finally, I would like to turn to the firewood changes in the Environment Protection Act. In relation to the changes to the approval process for firewood merchants, the Greens note that the conditions and requirements included in the environmental authorisations will be incorporated into regulation. These conditions relate to the cutting, storing, seasoning, sale and supply of firewood in the ACT. They are important to protect threatened and native trees from clearing and ensure that any firewood available for sale produces low levels of particulate pollution and emissions. We know that burning green or uncured firewood increases the amount of pollution produced, and the illegal clearing and collection of wood from woodlands and forests can have damaging effects on local ecosystems.
I would like to elaborate on both of those points. When it comes to using unsuitable wood in fireplaces—and this is incredibly important here in Canberra; we know that in this city we experience the inversion effect in winter—the way our valleys are, particularly the Tuggeranong Valley, they can trap particulate pollution; the very still air, the lack of movement and the way that the inversion effect works means that areas in Canberra are particularly vulnerable to still air. This means that if people are using fireplaces, in particular using them improperly, that can have a very serious impact on air pollution, and a particularly serious impact on those who suffer from asthma and other breathing related conditions. So it is incredibly important that we continue to realise this.
Just last week I was reminding people of the opportunity to access a government rebate to assist them to replace their wood heaters or fireplaces. Here in the Assembly today, I would remind people of the ability to access that rebate and to consider upgrading, particularly to a new, highly efficient electric system which, as the ACT moves towards 100 per cent renewable energy, will be emissions free. They provide improved, I think, heating of the home.
I visited a household last week which had accessed the program. The woman’s observation was interesting, in that previously they had one fireplace in one room of the house. On moving to an electric system they have been able to improve the heating of their whole house. In that case her neighbour had noted the pleasing lack of wood smoke pollution wafting across their home.
I would encourage people to consider replacing their wood-fired heaters, because of these reasons, and those who do continue to use them to pay particular attention to the government’s “Don’t burn tonight” message, which is a warning that goes out on those nights that are particularly still to remind people that it may not be the night to use their wood-fired heater if they can avoid it. Some people have dual heating systems and keep the wood-fired heater for special occasions because of the pleasant environment it creates, in their view, in their house. That is an important way of mitigating some of the risks for those in our community who suffer some of those breathing conditions. It is an altruistic thing to do, but I think many people in our community would like to be aware of that and do the right thing and not impact unnecessarily on others in our community.
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