A proposed Air Plan change will alter Lawrence zoning from air zone 3 into tougher air zone 2.
Otago Regional Council air quality scientist Deborah Mills says the reclassification is supported by a spatial monitoring programme that showed the town would likely fail the National Environment Standard (NES) a couple of times a year.
On the ground, the change was minimal but did mean cookers could no longer be installed and there were more limits on outdoor burning, Ms Mills said.
Mostly the change meant the town was now on the air pollution radar and more education about air pollution would take place there.
A permanent monitor had recorded air pollution in the town for the past two winters, registering two days over the NES 50mcg/cum (micrograms per cubic metre) each year.
The study showed peak air pollution occurred from 7pm to 8pm, which was later than in other towns, where the morning peak was higher than the evening peak.
This was due to a ''unique combination'' of burning behaviour, emission rates, meteorological effects and monitor placement.
There were no consented industrial or commercial discharges in the town because all commercial activities operated within the range of permitted activities.
Another air quality study was done in Queenstown which confirmed its classification in air zone 2.
PM10 (very small particle) testing was done in 47 spots around the town on five different occasions last July. Three areas had elevated readings: Fernhill, Frankton, and the town's residential area along Hallenstein St.
While the town had grown in the 15 years since the last study, it had made no difference to air quality.
The steep slopes of the adjacent mountains provided a source of cold air draining through the town, particularly along Gorge Rd. The lake provided an outlet for air that spilled down and made its way through the town.rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz
