The Regional Plan: Air for Otago (the Air Plan) assists us in managing Otago’s air resource.

Regional plan preparation is optional under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), except for the preparation of regional coast plans. We decided to prepare the Air Plan to assist us in carrying out our functions under the RMA.

However, it is the ORC’s responsibility to monitor ambient air quality and working with communities to achieve the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality, as well as raising awareness around local air quality issues.

The purpose of the Air Plan is to promote the sustainable management of Otago's air resource. To achieve this, the Air Plan has objectives, policies, rules, and other methods to address the air quality issues facing Otago.

The Air Plan covers the entire Otago region, including Otago's coastal marine area.

Zone 2:

• Rest of Otago

The Air Plan applies to all types of discharges to air. The following issues are covered by the plan:

• Agrichemical spraying
• Burning of fuel
• Discharges from industrial or trade activities, including odour and dust
• Discharges of vapour
• Domestic heating appliances
• Intensive farming
• Outdoor burning
• Waste management

The Council has begun the process of reviewing our Air Plan. The table below lists changes to the Air Plan since it was made operative.

If you're thinking of carrying out an activity in Otago that discharges contaminants (such as smoke, odour or dust) to air, you should read the rules in the Air Plan to see:

• If you can carry it out as a permitted activity,
• If you require a resource consent to carry it out, or
• If you cannot carry it out because it's a prohibited activity.

A resource consent is required for any activity the Air Plan states as being a discretionary activity.

The Air Plan does not apply to the discharge of contaminants to air associated with the normal operation of ships within the coastal marine area. Such discharges are controlled by the Resource Management (Marine Pollution) Regulations 1998, rather than the Air or Coast Plans. However, the Air Plan does apply to the discharge of contaminants to air from abrasive blasting, spray painting and conveying of bulk materials.

The Air Plan does not control the discharge of contaminants to air associated with the activities controlled by the Waste Plan.

View the list of approved burners on the Home Heating page.

The most common interaction our community has with the Air Plan is home heating. Look below to see if you need to adjust your method of home heating to meet the regulations for your Air Zone.

Use this flowchart to find out if your appliance is compliant:

You can order a physical copy at no cost from your ORC customer services team, or download:

To learn more about how air is managed in Otago, and what you can do to contribute to clean air, you can view our Air Care pages.