Tēnā koutou,

Welcome to the December edition of the Mount Industrial Community Newsletter.

This shorter newsletter is primarily being shared to update you that Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ have released the final Our air 2021 report on the state of New Zealand’s air quality. Since the November newsletter however, there have been a few other updates also.  

Our air 2021

The updated report looks at data from across the country for the last four years and compares each pollutant (where applicable) to New Zealand’s National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NESAQ) and the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) 2021 air quality guidelines.

As per our last newsletter, to allow the introduction of specific rules and provisions to better target particulate matter and odour in the Mount Maunganui Airshed, staff continue to wait for the updated NESAQ. The release of this report is another important step in the lead up to these updated rules and limits.

You can read the final Our air 2021 report here: Our air 2021 | Ministry for the Environment

Monitoring and Operations Committee meeting

The final Monitoring and Operations Committee meeting, where Mount Maunganui air pollution matters are discussed, was held on Tuesday 7 December. The following updates may be of interest:

• Ballance Agri-Nutrients Limited Air Discharge Review (page 156)
• Mount Maunganui Industrial Airshed Update (page 171)
• An overview of the World Health Organisation (WHO) global air quality guidelines and Our air 2021 preliminary data release (page 210).

Agenda of Monitoring and Operations Committee - Tuesday, 7 December 2021. 

Mount Maunganui Pollution Prevention Programme industrial audits

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana and Tauranga City Council staff have begun assessing 500+ businesses and activities in the Mount Industrial Area as part of the annual Pollution Prevention Programme audits.

Over the next three months staff will visit and assess each business premises and evaluate the potential of business activity to impact stormwater and air quality, including dust and odours. This project is also being used to assess the availability of land on business premises that would be suitable for future planting as part of a “Green up the Industrial Area project” as proposed by the Clear the Air community group. Furthermore, staff will map all areas of unsealed land which could be contributing to dust discharges from within the industrial area.

Pollution Hotline

As always, we will have staff on call 24/7 over the summer break. To report issues please call our Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883.

We hope you have a safe and happy holiday.