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Air
What is air pollution?
"Air pollution" means the emission into the air of any air impurity which includes smoke, dust (including fly ash), cinders, solid particles of any kind, gases, fumes, mists, odours and radioactive substances.
Air pollution can be associated with creating nuisances and acute health effects and may also cause long-term health problems. Apart from the impact on human health from air pollution, some pollutants can also damage vegetation and the built environment.
Council are authorised to regulate air pollution from stationary sources within the Pittwater local government area.
Current air quality
Current indicators reveal that the air quality in NSW is generally good.
Today's Air Quality Update - Regional Pollution Index.
Wood Smoke
A smoking wood fire heater can cause a lot of air pollution. If you can see or smell smoke this may be causing a problem for yourself, your family and your neighbours.
To prevent causing air pollution and/or smoke nuisances please ensure you follow these steps.
- Use good fuel
Always burn seasoned, dry hardwood. Store your wood in a dry ventilated area. Store it away from your house to prevent fire and termite risk.
Never burn rubbish, driftwood, softwoods or painted or treated timber. - Manage your fire
A good fire needs a balance between air, heat and fuel. When correctly balanced it will burn efficiently and not produce nuisance and harmful smoke.
Start with small pieces of wood, pack wood loosely to allow for air circulation, keep the fire hot, don't cause the fire to smoulder & regularly check how well your fire is burning by looking at what is coming out of your chimney - Use an Australian Standard wood fire heater
New wood heaters are cleaner burning and more efficient than older-style wood heaters and open fires.
The installation of a wood fire heater requires development consent. - A development application is required for the installation or relocation of a wood heating appliance.
Pittwater is a no open burning area
Under NSW pollution legislation, a person must not burn anything except in accordance with an approval (including vegetation):
- in the open, or
- in an incinerator in the Pittwater local government area.
Please check out the Protection of the Environment Operations (Control Of Burning) Regulation 2000. On the spot fines may be issued for open burning offences.
Making a complaint
A smoky chimney from a wood fire heater can have pollution & health impacts on you and your neighbourhood.
In most cases, concerns about air pollution should be referred to the source or person causing the problem. However, if approaching the person causing the problem has not been or is unlikely to be successful please contact Council to make a complaint.
Air pollution at times is difficult to measure and observe as it usually depends on different sensitivities in different people and because odour levels vary significantly with weather conditions.
If making a compliant to Council about air pollution please include the following information:
- Time, date and duration of odour
- Weather conditions and wind direction
- Details in relation to the nature of the odour
- Details where the odour is likely to be coming from
- Your contact details
Smoky vehicles
One of the most important things we can do is use our vehicles responsibly and use public transport or car pooling when we can. Apart from reporting smoky vehicles to the EPA, we can all help reduce pollution from our motor vehicles and lessen our impact on the environment.