Readings taken in May from Council’s rooftop, using the DustTrack monitoring device, show low levels of PM2.5 pollution. People living in the city centre enjoyed the cleanest air in May in Armidale for years.
“This is very good news for Armidale,” said Deputy Mayor Jim Maher, Chair of the Domestic Energy Committee (DEC). “PM2.5 pollution, caused by burning wood, is very harmful to human health.”
Burning wood produces noxious gases and fine particles that can lodge in the body, causing problems for people with respiratory conditions and potentially making even healthy people feel unwell and lethargic.
Winter air quality in Armidale can be explained by two factors, and possibly a combination of the two. Weather is one factor. Mr Maher explains that Armidale’s location and climate work in tandem to be one of the major contributors to the wood smoke pollution problem. In a valley at high altitude, clear sunny days and cold night-time temperatures combine to cause a temperature inversion. This is caused when a layer of cold, dense air acts like a blanket to trap pollution. This is what happens in Armidale’s city centre.
“So far this winter, Armidale has experienced more than usual winter rain and winds, and this is good for air quality,” says Mr Maher.
People-power is the other factor. The way people operate their fires is the other major contributor to the wood smoke pollution problem. Mr Maher knows that people love their wood fires, and that they can be operated so they don’t produce excessive smoke.
“My hat is off to residents who know that their fire is burning well in Armidale. If we want to continue to use wood for home heat, then we have to do it responsibly. And if you’re not, then your neighbours and anyone going past your house knows it. Many people use wood for heating in Armidale and some people have very smoky chimneys. Have a look at chimneys in town. If you see a heat haze coming from a chimney, that’s a fire burning well.”
Council is committed to improving air quality in Armidale’s city centre. Over many years it has provided education and a range of rebates for residents. Recently, Council’s DEC met to set its strategy for the next financial year. Education about how to operate your wood heater so it produces more heat and less smoke will continue.
Visit demonstrations set up at events like the Sustainable Living Expo (SLEX) and the Autumn Festival.
Drop into Council to pick up a free Wood Heater Education Kit.
