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The Regional Plan: Air for Otago
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The Regional Plan: Air for Otago (the Air Plan) assists us in managing Otago’s air resource.
Regional plan preparation is optional under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), except for the preparation of regional coast plans. We decided to prepare the Air Plan to assist us in carrying out our functions under the RMA.
However, it is the ORC’s responsibility to monitor ambient air quality and working with communities to achieve the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality, as well as raising awareness around local air quality issues.
The purpose of the Air Plan is to promote the sustainable management of Otago's air resource. To achieve this, the Air Plan has objectives, policies, rules, and other methods to address the air quality issues facing Otago.
The Air Plan applies to all types of discharges to air. The following issues are covered by the plan:
- Agrichemical spraying
- Burning of fuel
- Discharges from industrial or trade activities, including odour and dust
- Discharges of vapour
- Domestic heating appliances
- Intensive farming
- Outdoor burning
- Waste management
If you're thinking of carrying out an activity in Otago that discharges contaminants (such as smoke, odour or dust) to air, you should read the rules in the Air Plan to see:
- If you can carry it out as a permitted activity,
- If you require a resource consent to carry it out, or
- If you cannot carry it out because it's a prohibited activity.
A resource consent is required for any activity the Air Plan states as being a discretionary activity.
The Air Plan does not apply to the discharge of contaminants to air associated with the normal operation of ships within the coastal marine area. Such discharges are controlled by the Resource Management (Marine Pollution) Regulations 1998, rather than the Air or Coast Plans. However, the Air Plan does apply to the discharge of contaminants to air from abrasive blasting, spray painting and conveying of bulk materials.
The Air Plan does not control the discharge of contaminants to air associated with the activities controlled by the Waste Plan.
The table below lists changes to the Air Plan since it was made operative.
|
Key Event |
Date Notified |
Date Decision Released |
Date Operative |
|
The Regional Plan: Air for Otago |
28 February 1998 |
30 June 2001 |
1 January 2003 |
|
Plan Change 1 (Fire Service Training) |
17 December 2005 |
29 March 2006 |
10 April 2006 |
|
Plan Change 2 (National Environmental Standards) |
14 April 2007 |
12 December 2007 |
1 January 2009 |
|
Amendment (NPS for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Industrial Process Heat) 30 September 2023 |
N/A |
N/A |
30 September 2023 |
The Air Plan covers the entire Otago region, including Otago's coastal marine area.
April 2009
PDF | 324 KB
April 2009
PDF | 1 MB
April 2009
PDF | 604 KB
April 2009
PDF | 190 KB
April 2009
PDF | 183 KB
April 2009
PDF | 309 KB
April 2009
PDF | 710 KB
April 2009
PDF | 204 KB
April 2009
PDF | 403 KB
April 2009
PDF | 753 KB
April 2009
PDF | 225 KB
April 2009
PDF | 528 KB
April 2009
PDF | 485 KB
April 2009
PDF | 183 KB
April 2009
PDF | 225 KB
April 2009
PDF | 905 KB
April 2009
PDF | 250 KB
April 2009
PDF | 313 KB
- Rest of Otago
View the list of approved burners on the Home Heating page.
The most common interaction our community has with the Air Plan is home heating. Look below to see if you need to adjust your method of home heating to meet the regulations for your Air Zone.
|
Air Zone |
Approved burner |
|
1 |
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2 |
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3 |
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Use this flowchart to find out if your appliance is compliant:
In 2023 we commenced the review of our air plan to ensure it is fit for purpose and to ensure that we are taking the most effective approach to managing air quality issues across our region.
We have recently concluded engagement with the public and with stakeholders on the issues and options for addressing them. We received over 550 responses from members of the community wanting to have their voice heard.
The next step will be to analyse all the feedback and to finetune our approaches to tackling air quality issues. This work will occur alongside the revision of ORC’s air quality strategy that sets out the overall approach ORC will take to achieve air quality for good human health.
Refreshing our approach to air quality in Otago
We are refreshing our approach to managing air quality as our regional air plan is due for review. Have your say on how we should approach improving Otago's air quality.
Air Quality Strategy for Otago
ORC's Air Quality Strategy ensures safe, clean air in Otago for everyone's health. Download it to see how we're achieving this goal.
You can order a physical copy at no cost from your ORC customer services team, or download:
To learn more about how air is managed in Otago, and what you can do to contribute to clean air, you can view our Air Care pages below.
Air care
Clean air is fundamental to the health of our families and the health of our region.
Home heating
Home fires are a significant source of air pollution in some Otago towns. Get tips on reducing air pollution, heating your home economically, and the fireplace rules & regulations in Otago right here.
Outdoor burning
Some outdoor burning is allowed, but are you burning rubbish or toasting marshmallows? We have tips to help you reduce the pollution caused by outdoor fires.
