OPEN
ATTACHMENTS
Ordinary meeting of the
Nelson City Council
Thursday
17 December 2015
Commencing
at 9.00am
Council
Chamber
Civic
House
110
Trafalgar Street, Nelson
ATTACHMENTS UNDER SEPARATE COVER
15 Proposed Change A3 to
the Nelson Air Quality Plan - Amendments to Woodburner Provisions
1 A1473707 -
Key Findings from 2015 Reports - Air Quality 3
2 A1472293 -
Proposed Changes - Plan Change 3, Nelson Air Quality Plan 6
3 A1472304 -
Section 32 Evaluation - Proposed Changes to NAQP Woodburner Provisions 62
4 A1469510 -
Urban Airshed Modelling - Dispersion of PM10 118
5 A1469489 -
Air Quality Management in Nelson - Modelling of Additional Scenarios, 2015 150
6 A1472174 -
Potential Impacts of Management Issues - Heating, Household and Fuel Poverty
Data for Nelson - 2014 200
7 A1469497 -
Assessment of Air Quality Options 238
8 A1469511 -
Summary of Additional Scenarios Report 278
9 A1469503 -
Draft Behaviour Change and Monitoring-Modelling Programme 280
Key findings of 2015
reports
Urban Airshed Modelling
- Dispersion of PM10 Report
1.1 The
Dispersion of PM10 report analysed the likely flow of air pollution between the
airsheds and found that the level of dispersion between airsheds is lower than
previously estimated. This information is an important factor to consider when
analysing scenarios for future use of woodburners. In summary, it is estimated
that:
· Airshed C contributes 6% of the air pollution experienced in Airshed A
· Airshed B2 contributes 3% of the air pollution experienced in Airshed A
· Airshed B2 contributes 15% of the air pollution experienced in Airshed
B1.
Additional Scenarios
Report
1.2 Unless
management measures are adopted to reduce PM10 concentrations to well below the
target in the National Environmental Standard (50 micrograms per cubic metre)
there is unlikely to be any capacity in Airshed A for new
emissions.
1.3 There is
currently no capacity within Airshed B1 for the installation of
new burners. However, the replacement of pre-2004 burners over time is one of
the actions that may create more capacity in future.
1.4 In Airshed
B2 a 10% reduction in emissions, as a result of behaviour change, would
enable up to 1000 ULEBs to be installed, while maintaining acceptable
air quality. This is the approach being recommended
1.5 In Airshed B2
this number could be increased to up to 2500 ULEBs or 550 NES compliant burners
without compromising existing air quality if older burners were required to be
replaced at the end of a 20 year useful life. If the replacement of older
burners relied on natural attrition, lower limits such as 1250 ULEB or 225 NES
compliant burners would need to be set, if existing air quality is to be
maintained. This approach is not recommended.
1.6 In Airshed
C a 10% reduction in emissions as a result of behaviour change would enable
600 ULEBs to be installed, while achieving acceptable air quality. This
approach is the approach being recommended.
1.7 This number
could be increased to around 3000 ULEB or 700 NES compliant burners without
compromising existing air quality if older burners were required to be replaced
at the end of a 20 year useful life. If the replacement of older burners relies
on natural attrition, lower limits, such as 1500 ULEB or 350 NES compliant
burners should be set if existing air quality is to be maintained. This
approach is not recommended.
Heating, Household and
Fuel Poverty Data for Nelson Report
1.8 This report
has found that whilst fewer people have woodburners there are less people
living in cold homes. The report finds:
· Around 5837 households in Nelson (combined airshed area only) used a
wood burner for home heating in their main living area in 2014.
· The proportion of households with no insulation in Nelson appears to
have decreased from around 12% in 2006 to 4% in 2014.
· The majority of wood burners are used in owner occupied accommodation
(77%).
· Around two thirds of the wood used in wood burners was purchased from
wood suppliers.
· Wood burners are typically used in larger houses (3+ bedrooms) more
than 40 years old.
· Around 16% of households in Nelson are estimated to meet the definition
of fuel poverty (10% or more of the annual income is spent on energy).
Assessment of Air
Quality Options Report
1.9 Of the options
considered, implementing an enhanced behaviour change programme would result in
the greatest benefits for the least costs. The benefits would be experienced by
the wider society more than by individual households.
1.10 Continuing to improve air
quality (as provided for in the current air quality plan) is the preferred
option, followed by maintaining air quality at current levels.
1.11 Increasing emissions
would result in a transfer of costs from individual households to society as a
whole.
Draft Behaviour Change and Monitoring Programme
Behaviour Change
A national behaviour change project has identified that a programme to
successfully decrease emissions from domestic burners requires the following key
elements:
1. Tell the story (raise
awareness that smoky fires/poor burner operation cause emissions/contribute to
Nelson’s air pollution problem)
2. Individual contact (ie
targeted letters to smoky burner operators, with instructions on better burning
and offering support)
3. Disruptor (eg using spotters
to identify ongoing smoky burners/monitor progress)
4. Feedback (letting households
know how they are going).
To date the Council’s initiatives have been largely reactive,
consisting of:
· Extensive media campaign over several
years, including stalls, promoting better burning tips
· Our Good Wood scheme –
promoting access to dry wood
· Eco Building Advice – free home
audits/energy & home heating advice
· Responding to complaints regarding
smoky chimneys
The Council has done well at telling the story – there
is a high level of awareness in Nelson that woodburners contribute to
Nelson’s air pollution. However, some people still feel they are burning
properly and others are causing the problem, or do not know what they can do to
improve the operation of their burner. The Council can be more proactive by
developing a more targeted and supportive approach. Recommended actions to
increase behaviour change to achieve a 10% reduction in emissions from burners
are:
· Extend Good Wood scheme
to include chimney sweeps (Clean Sweep scheme) and burner retailers to promote
regular flue cleaning/burner maintenance
· Identify/target excessive
& ongoing smoky burners – review why (eg wet wood/dirty flue/poor
burner operation) & support them to change
· Follow up
changes/improvements – monitoring progress and provide feedback to
homeowners.
Estimated
costs for this are around $60,000, consisting of: $25,000 to develop an
effective strategy, $15,000 for ‘spotters’ (eg EIL staff
identifying smoky burners to target with a support package over winter months)
and $20,000 for the supporting information package/follow up.
Monitoring
The following monitoring is required to inform a comprehensive two yearly
air quality modelling programme in Nelson.
Airsheds A and B1:
Continue with existing PM10 and meteorological monitoring.
Modelling report every two years would cost approximately $3000 each year
in 2016/17, 2018/19, 2020/21.
Airshed B2:
Continue monitoring PM10. Met data is available from the airport.
Meteorological trends analysis would cost approximately $14,000
(2016/17). Update would cost $3,000 each year in 2018/19, 2020/21.
Airshed C:
Continue monitoring PM10. Additional monitoring to develop a better idea
of PM10 dispersion in this extensive and diverse airshed could be done by
establishing an additional monitoring site (costing approximately $35,000) or
undertaking some mobile monitoring (approximately $20,000).
There is no meteorological station for this airshed. Establishing one
would cost approximately $30,000.
Once meteorological data was available meteorological trends analysis
would cost approximately $14,000 (2016/17). Update would cost $3,000 each year
in 2018/19, 2020/21.
