18/07/2005 - Launceston
industries will receive a $1 million boost
to help them reduce particle pollution and
improve air quality under a new three-year
programme announced today by the Australian
Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell.
Senator Campbell said the Launceston Clean
Air Industry Programme would help industries
reduce pollution levels by upgrading their
wood-fired boilers to cleaner burning alternatives.
It would also encourage other ideas industries
may have for reducing their emissions of air
pollution in Launceston.
"There are clear links between particle
pollution and illnesses like asthma and bronchitis.
I strongly encourage companies to take advantage
of the funding assistance offered by this
programme," Senator Campbell said.
"Launceston has had a long term pollution
problem and the Australian Government has
made a long-term commitment to solving it.
"For example, we invested $2.05 million
in the Launceston Wood Heater Replacement
Programme, which gave householders a $500
rebate to replace their wood heaters with
more environmentally friendly forms of heating.
"This programme led to more than 2000
wood heaters being replaced and contributed
to the onethird reduction in the number of
times the national standard for particles
was exceeded in Launceston between 2001 and
2004."
Senator Campbell said that while the Wood
Heater Replacement Programme had helped to
improve air quality in Launceston, the Australian
Government was looking to build on the progress
by targeting industrial sources of particles
that impact on the urban areas of Launceston.
"By working with companies to reduce
industrial pollution, we can further improve
the air quality and help to improve the quality
of life in Launceston," he said.
