A new councillor reference group has been formed by the Otago Regional Council in the lead up to reviewing its Air Quality Strategy next year.

At a meeting in Dunedin last week councillors Alan Somerville, Kate Wilson and Gary Kelliher were appointed to the group to help guide staff on its decision making.

Manager of strategy Hilary Lennox told the meeting that while the reference group made no decision or gave any direction on the air quality strategy, they would monitor milestones throughout the process ready for endorsement in August 2025.

The old air quality strategy was last updated back in 2018, and whilst it provided a good foundation for the current work, the implementation had been strained when funding was exhausted, her report to council said.

Regional council staff were engaging with counterparts from other regional councils to share and understand learnings, opportunities, and emerging expectations around improvements to air quality management in New Zealand.

“It is well recognised that effective air quality management requires regional councils to understand and target the causes of poor air quality. 

“Often a combination of regulatory and non-regulatory approaches is used. For example, the success of a rule requiring the community to only burn dry wood depends on the community’s understanding of what dry wood is, and their access to dry wood.”

The report said a certification scheme for firewood retailers to demonstrate their wood was dry had been successful in other areas. ORC was exploring these types of approaches as part of reviewing the strategy.

Staff recommended the reference group consist of four councillors, preferably with representation from Central Otago where some of the towns with the poorest air quality were located.

Cr Kelliher argued that direction would be better coming from all councillors than just three or four, and voted against the motion.

This was challenged by Cr Bryan Scott who said they only had limited time and the point of the reference group was to keep council staff honest, “so they don’t go rogue” on the issue.