Reefton locals grumpy over coal ban proposal

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Reefton locals grumpy over coal ban proposal

3News NZ

Reefton locals gathered to voice some of their concerns

Reefton locals gathered to voice some of their concerns

If you've visited Reefton, you'll know it's a classic West Coast town – charming, in a low key way.

It’s rich with its own history, with a main street that looks like a film set and fires burning from almost every chimney, in almost every house, almost all the time.

Reefton's always been a mining town, and locals burn the region's coal to keep themselves warm, fuel their wet backs, and even to cook on.

It’s as much a part of their life as politics in Wellington, or really bad traffic in Auckland.

But all that coal burning is causing pollution. National environment standards for air quality have been breached 27 times this winter.

Now almost unbelievably, the West Coast Regional Council is looking at a coal fire ban.

And from 2016, councils throughout the country will be required by law to ensure no more than three clean breaches a year.

So, clean air? Or warm homes?

Campbell Live’s John Sellwood went to Reefton to talk with some rather grumpy locals - watch the video.

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Comments

26/08/2012 10:18:05 p.m.

Rene Haeberli wrote:

Hi there, I wrote to you after your report regarding wood fires in Christchurch. Now you have done another report in Reefton using coal as heating source. The problem is not only in these two region, it is all over in NZ. Accordingly to the latest 'Updated Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand Study' dated March 2012 the the social costs including prematured death, health costs and not able to work is estimated of 2.4 billion dollars a year caused by domestic fires in partiular partilulate matter or PM10. There is a solution on the market called 'Oeko-Tube' from Switzerland and it is an ESP (electrostatic precipitator) and can be retro-fitted on every single chimney in NZ. If the government can subsidize heat pumps with $ 1200 why not ESP's. Especially wood, which is renewable, carbon neutral and NZ has plenty of it. Coal is a source, which NZ has and will not disappear as a heating source in decades to come. The overall solution is here but very hard to convince local and regional councils as well as politicians that this is the cheapest and cleanest solution in the long term. Regards, Dr Rene Haeberli EnvrioSolve Ltd

25/08/2012 6:37:16 p.m.

alison wrote:

I came across this earlier this week on tv3 Ophir in Central Otago recorded the second lowest New Zealand temperature of -21.6C in 1995 and was chosen by Knauf Insulation to have the homes of 50 residents, commercial and public buildings insulated for free using EarthWool. It has taken a year and cost more than $200,000 for all the often old buildings to be insulated, with each house having to be approached in different ways.Maybe another business can promote there company and help out this town. Knauf Insulation you are tops. Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/NZs-coldest-town-a-bit-warmer/tabid/423/articleID/265874/Default.aspx#ixzz24XN6mMm7

22/08/2012 9:14:47 p.m.

Peter wrote:

This is not just a Reefton problem, here we are, well in to the 21st century and the South Island still has freezing cold homes! Insulation helps but it still does not fix the problem, and that is...you still have to heat your house. This is what a lot of people struggle with, the ongoing cost and under performing new technology (Heat Pumps etc). Here is a true example of NZ 21st century Kyoto garbage. An elderly couple buy a house recently in a Town/City.. First they pay for insulation to their small house (not sure what the cost was) then they buy/install a heat pump.. cost $4000.. guess what? heat pump was hopeless! Yep all the flannel we hear 'get Clean Heat'... So they buy/install a logburner cost $4000...now they are warm! I hope you can get the point, by the way, they are not allowed to have a wetback, OH NO, cannot let people heat their own water!.. having to heat the water with electric every day in the winter makes a joke of the energy saving lightbulbs doesn't it! The answer I believe is cheap power, pure and simple, we got the best form of generation here so why can't it be done? because successive governments would rather make money out of us than actually let us catch up with the rest of the Western world.

22/08/2012 7:28:58 p.m.

Andrew wrote:

Hi Guys, Nothing beats a roaring cozy coal fire.The man in the picture is Mark. A most interesting man who did not speak but whose views are shared by most if not all the locals. Hands off our way of life. I have lived in and worked with Mark in Reefton and own a house similar to many in the town, made of wood a hundred years ago and with its high ceilings cool in summer and freezing in winter. Coal is the life blood of the heat in Reefton. There is wood and I am sure lots of alternatives suggested but making demands on a community without giving viable options..someone needs their heads read. It was great to see my mate Gordy make comment re the hydro, yes Reefton was first but the government took it (ownership)away then closed it down. Maybe the locals could reboot the hydro for the town

22/08/2012 6:52:15 p.m.

joy wrote:

I was born and bought up in Reefton. Coal was used for heating, cooking and heating our water. Every one used coal. and still do. The coasters have had everything they try to make a better living taken away from them. the wood, the gold minning, the inangahua river, could make power again also the buller. but no.. the greenies that have never been over there to see any of it. Or if they have they seem to think what they see from the road is all there is, when there is miles and miles of back country where no-one sees that could be made use of.
Just leave the coasters alone
I remember the older men saying that there is lots of treasures in the hills that only coasters no about. If only they were left alone.

22/08/2012 9:19:08 a.m.

Mary wrote:

having just spent two nights in Reefton walking around getting to know the place and the locals... I tell you the heart of Reefton is the coal. the coal makes the people and the history and the place. the only time i was warm was either by a coal fired radiator system or by a blazing hot coal fire. Insulation may help limit the ammount of coal burned but I think council can look at bigger issues which affect bigger populations... the heart of Reefton has had a hard past in that mountain valley... who are we to mine the earth and export our coal without cheerishing our locals and their identity. I burn wood in my west coast home yet I treasure the stories the smell the people and the history of Reefton. Take away the coal ...Take away the town. We are all proud of the Wild west coast...the numbers are few.. the hearts are great. Leave them be. One of the few places untouched.

22/08/2012 7:50:25 a.m.

aiden wrote:

educate yourself bill, it is the council putting this ban in place and the air quality was set in place also by labour.

21/08/2012 10:44:01 p.m.

Jim Seaview wrote:

QUOTE: "Now almost unbelievably, the West Coast Regional Council is looking at a coal fire ban."

Reefton may have have breached the National environment standards for air quality 27 times this winter. It is a coal producing town and the locals have always used this fuel to warm their homes. Do you ever hear them complain?? NO

If the West Coast Regional Council are serious about a ban on coal fires, they should give at least 3 years notice to the residents and also give them alternatives.

There is new wood burning stove has been designed by Mr Roger Best from
Rangiora who has designed a stove that can take all firewood, freshly cut with all the sap, plus all dry firewood and there are no emmissions.

I am not sure if his stove will take coal.

I believe that the first of these stoves is currently being built in Greymouth.

Govt and local body assistance with insulating the homes in Reefton will also help.

If the WCRC can first of all come up with all the alternatives for the people of Reefton (which in Winter is one of the coldest towns in NZ)and give them reasonable lead time to make choices - then all parties will be winners, including the enviroment.


21/08/2012 10:40:29 p.m.

Bill wrote:

What a bunch of hypocrites this Government are, it's ok to dig it out of the ground and ship it overseas to be burn't, but hell don't do it in this Nanny Country, Ok for these overpaid Pollies, they can afford insulation and other forms of heating, most probably paid by the taxpayer.

21/08/2012 9:36:12 p.m.

Tania Jockwer wrote:

For goodness sake! I lived in Reefton and the whole place is a blanket of cold fog ALL winter. The houses are old, damp and cold and if they want them to burn something other than coal then step up and help people who are mostly on low incomes to afford good heating and good insulation. The rubbishy heat pumps sold in New Zealand aren't good enough. New Zealanders could learn alot from Europe about how to stay warm. No point just picking on West Coaster they will just dig thier heels in. Regional Council needs to try a different approach and put some money where thier mouth is.