Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Dunedin achieves 5 consecutive years air quality complance

24 November 2016

Dunedin achieves five consecutive years of air quality compliance

Central Dunedin has notched up its fifth consecutive year of compliance with air quality standards.

The achievement was praised today by the chairwoman of the Otago Regional Council’s technical committee, Cr Maggie Lawton, who noted the contribution made by large industrial emitters to this result.

A summary of 2016 air quality results presented to councillors yesterday noted that in Dunedin, PM10 (air particulate) levels have dropped significantly in the past five years, and have remained low throughout that time.

There were no breaches of the National Environmental Standard for Air Quality in Dunedin this year, a pattern that goes back to 2011.

Cr Lawton said improvements in industrial air discharges and the replacement of older, inefficient solid fuel-burners with cleaner burning systems were the most likely contributors to this perfect compliance record.

PM10 levels increased in Mosgiel from 2007 through 2011, but have since started to decline with this year having some of the best year-round air quality over the past 10 years.

Overall, the concentrations of pollutants being discharged to air from domestic and industrial chimneys in Otago have been gradually reducing during the past 10 years.

ORC conducted air quality monitoring this year in Alexandra, Arrowtown, Clyde, Cromwell, Balclutha, Dunedin, Milton, and Mosgiel to measure the amount of PM10 in the atmosphere.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

The Alexandra, Arrowtown, Dunedin and Mosgiel monitoring is done year-round while in Balclutha, Milton, Clyde, and Cromwell this is limited to the colder winter months.

The National Environmental Standard for air quality was exceeded in Alexandra on 39 days this calendar year, followed by Milton (35), Cromwell (33), Arrowtown (30), Clyde (17), Balclutha (11), Mosgiel (8), and Dunedin (0).

In Alexandra, while year-round PM10 values do not indicate any significant trend over the past 10 years, on days where the national standard was exceeded a small but steady decrease in those highest values has emerged.

Cr Lawton said that the replacement of older, inefficient wood burners with newer, more efficient models was the most likely cause of this improvement.

In Arrowtown, PM10 values have been much more variable year-to-year but with a significant decrease from 2007 to 2011. In 2013, the monitoring equipment was moved to an alternate location in Arrowtown, where PM10 levels are generally higher, but improvement was still evident over the past three years.

“Improving air quality in Otago, particularly in Central Otago, is challenging – however, these slight but sustained improvements over a 10-year period are encouraging,” Cr Lawton said.

“I am confident that through the development of an air strategy and investigation of new, smart technologies, these improvements will continue so we can all enjoy fresh, clean air, and preserve the magnificent landscapes Otago is famous for.”


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.