Latest news with #OtagoRegionalCouncil
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Some towns' air quality still poor
While some areas of Otago still face winter air quality exceedances, more than 70% of days across monitored sites during 2024 were classified as "Good" under the Ministry for the Environment's Environmental Performance Indicators. The 2024 Annual Air Quality Report, recently released by the Otago Regional Council, revealed some towns continued to have challenges in managing their air quality. ORC air quality scientist Sarah Harrison said Otago recorded 28 exceedances of the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NESAQ) for particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres (PM10) during the winter months in 2024, compared with 17 exceedances in winter 2023. The annual report shows PM10 monitoring was conducted in the Alexandra, Arrowtown, Central Dunedin and Mosgiel airsheds in 2024. Alexandra, Arrowtown and Mosgiel recorded exceedances of the (NESAQ) during the winter months. "Alexandra and Arrowtown recorded 11 and 16 exceedances, respectively, and Mosgiel recorded one." PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometres) was also monitored in Arrowtown, Central Dunedin, Clyde, Cromwell, Milton, Mosgiel and Wānaka in 2024. The sites with the highest annual averages were Clyde and Mosgiel, and the site with the highest 24-hour average was Milton. "Otago has several towns where air quality is considered degraded during winter, namely Alexandra, Arrowtown, Clyde, Cromwell, Milton and Mosgiel. "In Otago, the main source of PM is home heating emissions in winter. "Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 contribute to the risks of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions," she said. "In Otago, a lot of PM2.5 comes from burning wood for home heating, and is seen in the data for most towns." A new PM2.5 monitoring site was installed in Frankton in late 2024, and this data would be reported in the next annual report. Ms Harrison said black carbon was also a component of particulate matter, and monitoring of it would help improve both our understanding of PM as a product of burning, and black carbon as a health and climate pollutant. "Monitoring smaller sizes of particulate matter (PM2.5) is a significant step forward," Ms Harrison said. "These smaller particles pose greater health risks, and by enhancing our network, we're better equipped to inform policy and protect community wellbeing." Upgrades to the air quality monitoring network would continue throughout 2025, including more co-location and calibration work to improve the accuracy of new instruments. "These investments ensure the ORC remains at the forefront of air quality management, backed by reliable science and community collaboration," she said.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Thousands of Otago residents exposed to flooding, liquefaction, new report finds
Lateral spreading happens when liquefaction stretches and tears the ground. This example happened during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Photo: Sarah Bastin A new report has found thousands of people and buildings, including homes, are potentially exposed to flooding and liquefaction in Otago. The Otago Regional Council report used existing data to map the natural hazard exposure risks for people, buildings and critical services. It is the first comprehensive assessment for the entire region. The report found the greatest exposure was from river and lake flooding and liquefaction hazards. "Totals of greater than 30,000 people and buildings, including >10,000 dwellings, within the Otago region are located in areas identified as potentially subject to each of these hazards," the report said. Most of that exposure was located in and near Dunedin, with 39 of the 117 community areas being classed as having a 'high exposure' - which meant an area that had a high number of people or buildings within a mapped hazard area, not that an event was imminent. This included the floodplains that were in the council's and Lower Taieri flood protection schemes, but people and buildings within those areas were considered to be 'potentially exposed'. The report assessed 90 critical community facilities across the region - important buildings in a post-disaster response including hospitals, fire and police stations, or emergency operation centres. Of those, 23 were at risk of flooding and 35 were exposed to liquefaction across the region. Queenstown, Wānaka and Dunedin all had relatively high exposures to hazards involving slope stability including landslides and alluvial fans. There were about 500 people and 1100 buildings exposed to coastal hazards including tsunamis and storm surges, mostly around Dunedin and Clutha. The council's natural hazards manager, Dr Jean-Luc Payan, said the data would help to inform future planning to reduce risk. It would also show where they should prioritise future resilience and hazard investigations, as well as aid emergency management. "This work is not about predicting when an event might happen," he said. "It's about identifying where exposure exists so we can make smarter decisions about resilience, planning and investment." The council's senior natural hazards analyst, Tim van Woerden, said it was a living dataset that would continue to be refined as more detailed information was sourced. "These terms may sound technical or worrying, but it's important to remember this analysis is about where we focus effort to reduce exposure - not about predicting events or sounding alarms," he said. The council's natural hazards prioritisation programme is due to begin in the upcoming financial year.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Air Quality Monitoring Expands As Seasonal Challenges Continue
Press Release – Otago Regional Council The annual report shows that while some areas still face winter air quality exceedances particularly Alexandra, Arrowtown and Mosgiel over 70% of days across monitored sites were classified as Good under the Ministry for the Environments Environmental … Otago Regional Council has released its Annual Air Quality Report for 2024, revealing some challenges in managing air quality across the region. The report underscores the importance of ongoing community engagement, updated monitoring technologies, and a clear path forward as part of Otago's commitment to cleaner air and healthier communities, says ORC's Air Quality Scientist, Sarah Harrison. The annual report shows that while some areas still face winter air quality exceedances —particularly Alexandra, Arrowtown and Mosgiel — over 70% of days across monitored sites were classified as 'Good' under the Ministry for the Environment's Environmental Performance Indicators. The report includes PM2.5 monitoring (particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) data at seven locations. These fine air particulates (PM2.5) pose greater health risks to communities. A new PM2.5 monitoring site was installed in Frankton in late 2024 and this data will be reported in the next annual report. Black carbon is a component of PM and monitoring of it will help improve both our understanding of PM as a product of burning, and black carbon as a health and climate pollutant. 'Monitoring smaller sizes of particulate matter (PM2.5) is a significant step forward,' Ms Harrison says. 'These smaller particles pose greater health risks, and by enhancing our network, we're better equipped to inform policy and protect community wellbeing.' While winter emissions continue to be a challenge, especially in towns where home heating is the main source of particulate matter, the seasonal patterns reinforce the importance of community focused initiatives like Burn Dry, Breathe Easy, which encourage the use of cleaner heating methods. 'We're not just measuring air quality — we're continuing to build the evidence needed to inform decisions and we're also building stronger community partnerships,' Ms Harrison added. 'Improving air quality in Otago is a shared responsibility, and the data tells us we're on the right track, even if there's more work to do.' Upgrades to the air quality monitoring network will continue throughout 2025, including more co-location and calibration work to improve the accuracy of new instruments. These investments ensure the ORC remains at the forefront of air quality management, backed by reliable science and community collaboration. Upon validating last year's winter data, Otago recorded *28 exceedances of the NESAQ (National Environmental Standards for Air Quality) for PM10 during the winter months in 2024, compared with 17 exceedances in winter 2023. Otago has several towns where air quality is considered degraded during winter, namely Alexandra, Arrowtown, Clyde, Cromwell, Milton, and Mosgiel. In Otago, the main source of PM is home heating emissions in winter. Long term exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 contribute to the risks of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Mobile air quality trailer – maiden mission A mobile air quality monitoring station was acquired by ORC last year to monitor PM2.5. PM2.5 is a pollutant emitted by combustion. In Otago, a lot of PM2.5 comes from burning wood for home heating and is seen in the data for most towns. PM data is extremely seasonal with very high concentrations in winter. Having a mobile air quality monitoring station will allow ORC's science team to: · Collect air quality data across a number of locations in Otago · Investigate pollution hotspots, industrial zones, or areas with complaints · Gather time-sensitive data during specific events or seasons · Help raise awareness by visibly showing communities their local air quality · Teach about pollution and environmental health at schools or public demonstrations. · Monitor multiple communities or research sites · Quickly deploy a monitoring station in response to environmental events, accidents, or wildfires. The air quality trailer's first assignment is to learn more about the concentration patterns in the Wānaka area. It is currently installed in the reserve on Rifleman Street in Albert Town. ORC also has a monitoring site in Wānaka township. The information gathered at these two locations will be useful in understanding where the highest concentrations occur. Concentrations can vary due to density of housing, types of emissions, topography, how sheltered an area is, and wind speed and direction. The PM2.5 sensor is the small box located halfway up the mast. The meteorological sensor is at the end of the mast. This measures temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and atmospheric pressure — all of these help us to analyse the PM2.5 data. The data is being collected but the real-time transfer of data from the mobile monitoring station to LAWA is still being set up. New Frankton monitoring station ORC monitors Otago's air quality at air monitoring stations, located in towns across the region. The stations measure the amount of combustion-related particles in the air (think particles from wood burning, vehicles, and industrial operations as examples). This latest addition to our region-wide monitoring network is a permanent monitoring station, recently installed in the Kawarau Falls Playground in Frankton to monitor PM2.5 in the area. These are particles from combustion alone. To learn more about particulate matter (PM) and find out the air quality in your area, go to Data from this new station in Frankton will make its way onto LAWA in coming months. Burn Dry, Breathe Easy firewood campaign Given the predominance of home heating emissions seen in our air quality data, ORC runs an annual Burn Dry, Breathe Eas y campaign. The campaign highlights better ways to manage home heating emissions, including checking wood is dry before burning and not burning wet wood or rubbish — both of which have an adverse effect on air quality and the environment. Woodsmoke pollution can be reduced when residents burn only dry wood and keep their fire hot and not smouldering. Further woodsmoke reductions could potentially be made through thermally efficient homes with good insulation, she says. Burn Dry, Breathe Easy tips: Stack your firewood off the ground and out of the rain — anywhere you wouldn't put your washing out to dry Use a wood moisture meter to check if your firewood is dry enough to burn. Less than 25% moisture means more heat and reduced smoke A well-built fire of scrunched up paper or firelighters, dry kindling and firewood ensures a well-heated home and less smoke Don't burn wet or green firewood, treated wood or household rubbish as they can release harmful toxins into the air To reduce smoke overnight, make sure you can still see flames when you turn your fire down Plan ahead — stock up on firewood before Christmas to allow it to dry out before the following winter. Everyone has responsibilities whether at home or as landowners, industry, or businesses to play their part to improving air quality. The Council hopes the campaign encourages people to think about the health of their families and community and use wood burners responsibly or consider the installation of ultra-low emission burners or heat pumps. Notes: *ORC issued a media release last October on an increase in winter air quality exceedances (linked below). And while there was an increase in recorded exceedances in 2024 compared to 2023, figures quoted have now been confirmed as raw data from monitoring equipment and had not yet been validated. This data has since been validated and shows Arrowtown experienced only 16 exceedances and not 25. Therefore, there were only 28 winter air qualityexceedances for Otago in 2024 and not 37.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Passenger Numbers Up, Revenue Down For ORC's Public Transport
Press Release – Otago Regional Council Fare revenue in Dunedin for the three quarters was down 8% to $3.11 million while in Queenstown revenue for the same period declined 6% to $2.42 million. The Public Transport patronage and revenue data is being presented to ORCs Public and Active Bus passenger numbers across ORC's Dunedin and Queenstown Public Transport services continue to increase, but to a backdrop of falling revenue as NZ Transport Authority subsidies decline. For the first three quarters of the current financial year – covering from July 2024 to March 2025 – Dunedin passenger numbers rose by 4% to 2,611,577 trips and in Queenstown rose by 3% to 1,489,729 trips, says ORC's General Manager Regional and Planning Transport, Anita Dawe. 'We are really pleased that we continue to see a steady increase in patronage, especially as the removal of subsidies can create challenges for our public transport community. We're also seeing more older and younger people using our buses, especially on the Dunedin network,' she says. Fare revenue in Dunedin for the three quarters was down 8% to $3.11 million while in Queenstown revenue for the same period declined 6% to $2.42 million, Ms Dawe says. Using Dunedin as an example, Ms Dawe says in the six months to December 2023, there were 1.67 million passengers and the NZTA subsidy for that period was $602,819. However, for the six months to December 2024, there were 1.73 million Dunedin passengers, but the NZTA subsidy reduced by more than $443,000, to $159,069. The subsidy reductions are across public transport services around the country. Ms Dawe noted numerous NZTA subsidies ended in April 2024, including for free child (5-12), youth (13-18) and Youth Plus (19-25). She predicted that for the full year overall Otago bus patronage numbers will exceed the previous year, while year-on-year percentage growth will be lower because 2023-24 had a 'very high rate of growth' to better, she says. The Public Transport patronage and revenue data is being presented to ORC's Public and Active Transport Committee next Thursday (5 June) for noting. The full Agenda and report is now online, under Meetings on The Queenstown ferry operation saw a 6% decline in patronage to 55,829 passengers for the three- quarter period,while revenue was down 3% to $618, 984. Mrs Dawe notes the impact on the ferry revenue after its return to full fares was more keenly felt in dollar terms than on the bus services. On Total Mobility patronage, there was a 17% increase in patronage for the three-quarter period, rising to a total 105,996 trips. The trip costs are shared between the passenger, ratepayer and taxpayer.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Climate
- Scoop
New Report Maps Otago's Exposure To Natural Hazards
Press Release – Otago Regional Council The Otago Region Natural Hazards Exposure Analysis is the regions first comprehensive assessment of where people, buildings, and critical facilities may be situated in areas potentially affected by one or more natural hazard types. A new report released by the Otago Regional Council (ORC) marks a major step forward in understanding how communities across Otago are exposed to natural hazards such as flooding, earthquakes, landslides, and tsunami. The Otago Region Natural Hazards Exposure Analysis is the region's first comprehensive assessment of where people, buildings, and critical facilities may be situated in areas potentially affected by one or more natural hazard types. 'This analysis provides a regional-scale, data-driven snapshot that will help guide how we prioritise future resilience projects and hazard investigations,' ORC's Manager Natural Hazards, Dr Jean-Luc Payan says. The report covers the entire Otago region and assesses exposure to nine key natural hazard types using regional-scale mapping and modelling datasets. It estimates the number of people, buildings, and critical community facilities (such as hospitals and emergency services) located in areas which may be exposed to natural hazards. 'This work is not about predicting when an event might happen,' Dr Payan explains. 'It's about identifying where exposure exists so we can make smarter decisions about resilience, planning and investment.' Following presentation to council, work can begin prioritising areas and hazard types of most concern, working with communities, city and district councils to develop strategies to reduce risk. Key Findings River and lake flooding and liquefaction hazard types have the greatest exposure, with over 30,000 people and buildings potentially exposed to each hazard process. Of the urban areas in the region, Dunedin City has the highest overall exposure, particularly to flooding, liquefaction and seismic hazards. The Queenstown, Wanaka and Dunedin City urban areas have a relatively high exposure to slope stability hazards, such as landslides and alluvial fans. Coastal hazards, such as tsunamis and storm surges, have a lesser exposure overall (about 500 people and 1,100 buildings), and mainly in the Dunedin City and Clutha district. There were 90 critical community facilities identified in the region, with the highest exposure of these facilities being for flooding and liquefaction hazard types. The full technical report and some supporting material are available to view online at How the Data Will Be Used The findings provide a critical foundation for ORC's natural hazards prioritisation programme, scheduled to begin in the 2025/26 financial year. The information will also support: Long-term planning and land-use decisions. Emergency management and regional policy development. Infrastructure management and resilience-building projects. The analysis will assist ORC and partner organisations, including Emergency Management Otago and territorial authorities, to focus natural hazard management efforts where they are most needed. The natural hazards data used comes from ORC's region-wide natural hazards mapping, developed using interpretation from aerial imagery and topography, and modelling. While it offers broad-scale insights, it does not replace local-scale studies or individual property hazard or risk assessments. No new natural hazards investigation was completed for the exposure analysis project, the analysis was based on ORC's existing natural hazards mapping data, which has been compiled over many years and is publicly displayed on the ORC Natural Hazards Portal. 'This is a living dataset,' says ORC Senior Natural Hazards Analyst, Tim van Woerden. 'As we gain access to more detailed information, we'll continue refining the analysis.' Glossary: making the terms clear To avoid confusion or alarm, here are simple definitions of some key terms used in the report: Exposure: means a person or building is located in an area where a hazard process might occur — not that they are guaranteed to be affected. Natural hazard: a natural process or event (like a flood or earthquake) that could cause harm to people or property. Liquefaction: a process where ground made of loose, wet soil can behave like a liquid during strong earthquake shaking. Alluvial fan: a fan-shaped landscape feature where debris and/or floodwaters from a hillside can wash out and spread during heavy rain events. Critical community facility (CCF): buildings that are key to post-disaster response, such as fire stations, police stations, hospitals or emergency operation centres. High exposure: a community area has a higher number or proportion of people or buildings located within a mapped hazard area — not that an event is imminent. 'These terms may sound technical or worrying,' Mr van Woerden adds, 'but it's important to remember this analysis is about where we focus effort to reduce exposure — not about predicting events or sounding alarms.' What's next ORC will now use the findings of the natural hazard exposure analysis as one tool to help identify and prioritise the areas most exposed for further study and investment. The natural hazards prioritisation workstream is scheduled to conclude by mid-2026. Updates to the exposure report will be made as more refined data becomes available.
