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Question and Answer Tracking Details

5444 - Energy and Environment - WOOD FIRED HEATERS POLLUTION

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
WOOD FIRED HEATERS POLLUTION

(1) How many wood heater smoke abatement notices were issued by NSW councils in:

(a) 2015?

(b) 2016?

(c) 2017?

(d) 2018?

(e) 2019?

(f) 2020? to date

(2) What protections are available for individuals whose health is impacted by the installation of neighbouring wood fire heaters, where the council declines to restrict their use, or says it has no resources to address complaints?

(3) Given the fact that there is no safe level of PM2.5 pollution, and any exposure to wood smoke PM2.5 above a daily average of 4 ug/m3 significantly increases the risk of hospital admissions for heart failure, what is the NSW government acceptable level of PM2.5 pollution increase on average per new wood fire heater for:

(a) Immediate neighbours with windows within 30 metres of the chimney?

(b) Neighbours whose property is within 100 metres of the chimney?

(4) Is it appropriate to permit new wood heaters, if even one additional wood heater per hectare (satisfying stricter standards than currently required in NSW) increases the risk by 7%, that a child under 3 will need hospital emergency treatment (excluding accidents)?

(5) The draft NSW Clean Air strategy states: "In some areas of Sydney ...  installation of wood heaters is restricted by planning controls." 

(a) What powers do NSW Councils have to restrict the installation of wood fire heaters?

(b) What councils are restricting the installation of wood heaters under their planning instruments?

(c) What restrictions have been applied?
Answer -

(1) Wood smoke abatement notices are issued by individual councils. The NSW Government does not collect this information.

(2) In NSW, individuals may complain to the NSW Ombudsman if they are not satisfied with actions undertaken by local councils.

(3) The NSW Government does not set levels of ambient particle emissions for individual wood heaters. However, all new wood heaters must comply with Australian emission and efficiency standards AS/NZS 2012 and AS/NZS 2013. All wood heaters must be installed in accordance with the Australian Standard for installation of wood heaters AS/NZS 2918, which requires the installation of the wood heater flue in such a manner as to prevent smoke penetration through windows or other openings of neighbouring residences.

(4) The Government has no intention to implement a state-wide ban on wood heaters. The Government recognises that there are potential health impacts from wood smoke. However, wood heaters are a viable and cost-efficient form of heating for many people, particularly in rural areas.

(5) 

(a) Councils can use planning instruments, such as Local Approvals Policies and Development Control Plans to restrict installation of wood heaters. Council approval is also required for the installation of a wood heater under Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993.

(b) Development Control Plans adopted by some councils, such as The Hills and Wollondilly Shire Councils, Blacktown and Camden City Councils, restrict installation of wood heaters in new growth areas.

(c) Restrictions include prohibiting open fireplaces and slow combustion stoves in new homes to prevent air pollution or disturbance to amenity of nearby residents.

Question asked on 22 April 2021 (session 57-1) and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 482
Answer received on 13 May 2021 and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 497

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.