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Question and Answer Tracking Details

5132 - Energy and Environment - HEALTH-HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTION FROM WOOD-FIRED HEATERS

Faehrmann, Cate to the Special Minister of State, and Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations, Aboriginal Affairs, and the Arts representing the Minister for Energy and Environment

(1) What is the estimated number of new wood heaters installed in recent years in:

(a) Sydney?

(b) Newcastle?

(c) Wollongong?

(d) NSW?

(2) Do real-life emissions of new wood-fire heaters satisfy the current Australian emissions standard of no greater than 1.5g PM2.5 per kilogram of wood burnt?

(3) What is the estimated annual health costs of a brand new wood-fire heater installed in NSW?

(4) Do councils have the power to limit the installation of new wood stoves to those with lab test emissions ratings below 0.1 g/kg?

(5) Has the NSW Government provided any financial or other assistance to Armidale Regional Council to reduce the 32 exceedances in 2018 of the daily average standard for PM2.5, and 63 exceedances in one residential area, since learning of these air pollution measurements?

(6) Will the NSW Government work with Armidale Regional Council to implement a pollution-reduction program commensurate with the estimated health costs of thousands of dollars per wood heater per year?

 
Answer -
HEALTH-HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTION FROM WOOD-FIRED HEATERS

(1)  Local councils are responsible for issuing approvals for installation of wood heaters under the Local Government Act 1993. The NSW Government administers the Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) scheme for new dwellings only. Under this scheme the following number of certificates for new dwellings with wood heaters were issued in the last five years in NSW:

(a) Sydney - 732

(b) Newcastle – 15

(c) Wollongong - 91

(d) NSW - 7756.

(2)  The NSW Government has not undertaken real-life emissions testing of wood heaters.

(3)  It is not feasible to assess the health impacts of an individual wood heater. However, some research has been undertaken to assess the health impacts of wood heaters in general as outlined in the draft NSW Clean Air Strategy 2021-30. The draft strategy includes actions to improve our knowledge about the impacts of wood smoke and promote healthier households by reducing wood heater emissions. The strategy is available for consultation until 23 April 2021 at www.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say/draft-nsw-clean-air-strategy.

(4)  NSW Councils have powers to restrict installation of wood heaters under their planning instruments. However, there are currently no wood heaters with certified emission ratings below 0.1 g/kg available in Australia.

(5)  The NSW Government supports all councils by providing guidance and resources for their compliance and community education activities. The NSW Environment Protection Authority provided funding of $110,000 to Armida le Regional Council as part of a wood smoke reduction program, over three years from 2013 to 2015. The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment installed an ambient air quality monitoring station in Armidale in 2018 at a cost of almost $200,000 and funds its annual operational and maintenance cost of more than $30,000.

(6)  The NSW Environmental Trust provides funding to a range of community and local government programs. Armidale Regional Council is encouraged to apply for a grant when the next round of the environmental education program is announced later this year.

 

Question asked on 12 March 2021 (session 57-1) and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 455
Answer received on 6 April 2021 and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 470

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.