The Role of the South Waikato District Council
Although it is primarily the home owner or tenant’s responsibility, in an effort to help lower the PM10 emissions that result from domestic heating in the required timeframe and improve the health of the community, SWDC oversees the WHCA project for the district.
Originally SWDC helped by providing loan funding for insulation to those households that met certain criteria. Now, working in conjunction with Tokoroa Council of Social Services, Waikato Regional Council, Raukawa Charitable Trust Board and South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Service Inc, with funding from SWDC and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), households that meet certain criteria are being provided with NES compliant heating appliances. South Waikato District Council is also providing tools to educate the community about ways they can help reduce their contribution to PM10 emissions.
South Waikato District Council has also introduced the rates incentive scheme “Heat Swap.” This involves replacing existing, non-compliant heating appliances with compliant clean heat ones partially subsidised by EECA and the rest of the costs being repaid over nine years in conjunction with the home owners rate payments.