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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.
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Don't let your heater smoulder overnight – keep enough air in the fire to maintain a flame.
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Burn only dry, aged hardwood in your wood heater. Unseasoned wood has lots of moisture, which causes a fire to smoke.
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Store your wood under cover in a dry, ventilated area. Freshly cut wood needs to be stored for at least eight to twelve months.
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Never burn rubbish, driftwood or painted or treated wood. These are sure to pollute the air and can produce poisonous gases.
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When lighting a cold heater, use plenty of dry kindling to establish a good fire quickly.
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Use several small logs rather than one large log and stack them loosely in your heater, so air can circulate around them. Don't cram the firebox full.
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Keep the flame lively and bright. Your fire should only smoke when you first light it and when you add extra fuel. Open the air controls fully for 5 minutes before and 15 to 20 minutes after reloading the heater.
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Check your chimney regularly to see how well your fire is burning. If there is smoke coming from the chimney, increase the air supply to your fire.
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Have the chimney cleaned every year to prevent creosote build-up.
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If you are buying a wood heater, make sure it has a compliance plate showing it meets the Australian Standard (AS/NZS 4013:1999).
A development application is required for the installation or relocation of a domestic solid fuel heater where a new penetration through the roof is required.
A development application is not required for the installation or relocation of a domestic solid fuel heater where the flue is installed inside an existing chimney.
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 (Clean Air) Regulation (2002). 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.