New fire and burner rules for Rotorua

A new rule limiting the type of wood burner s and pellet fire s that can be installed comes into affect in the urban Rotorua area on Wednesday.

The new rule is one of three that comes from a bylaw developed to help improve Rotorua’s air quality. The Air Quality Control Bylaw is administered and enforced by the R egional C ouncil.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Group Manager Strategic Development Mary-Anne Macleod said the councils wanted to reduce pollution in Rotorua’s air as it’s the worst in the North Island .

“In wintertime home heating is the main cause of Rotorua’s air pollution,” she said.

“Between these three rules, and our interest free loan to change to cleaner heating , we’re taking important steps to improve Rotorua’s air. We will all benefit in the long-run.”

“The new burner rule means that from 1 December 2010, if you live within the Rotorua Airshed, an area covering most of urban Rotorua, you can only install approved wood burners and pellet fires.

“This won’t change much for most people,” Ms Macleod said.

“At this stage the bylaw will only restrict the type of wood burners that can be installed. The Rotorua District Council will only issue building consents to burners that meet the national standards –a practice they have requiring for sometime,.

The other new rules are a Point of Sale rule that means from 1 May 2012 properties in the Rotorua airshed cannot be sold with non-compliant solid fuel burners; and a ban on using open fires from 1 May 2015.

“We’ll be reminding people about these rules before they come into affect,” Ms Macleod said.

Details on the bylaw and airshed are available from the Regional Council’s website envbop.govt.nz or by phoning 0800 ENV BOP (368 267). To find out more about Hot Swap Loan call 0800 468 792 or go to hotswap.co.nz

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