partly cloudyDunedin 20 | 12
Wednesday, Wed, 26 FebruaryFeb 2025
Subscribe

Insulation subsidy sought

Jordana Whyte
Jordana Whyte
Milton residents could get warmer, drier homes as part of a pilot project to improve their standard of living.

At a Clutha District Council meeting last week, Cosy Homes Charitable Trust project manager Jordana Whyte sought support from the council to target cold and damp homes which had non-compliant heating appliances and were underinsulated.

The charitable trust proposed a pilot project programme to use the council's clean heat-clean air rates reserve plan.

It was part of the trust's objectives to improve the health and warmth of the region's housing stock.

Milton was identified as a candidate for the pilot programme as it had the highest rates of social needs in all Otago Regional Council airshed zone towns, which made it more vulnerable and likely for households to report living in cold, damp conditions. Airshed towns are where air quality could be increased higher than national air quality standards.

Ms Whyte said there were a lot of issues facing housing in South Otago.

Milton was identified as having higher unemployment rates, lower median income, a high number of solo parents and higher percentage of Maori and Pacific Islander population.

''Now is the time to take action,'' Ms Whyte said.

Ms Whyte asked the Clutha District Council to contribute an insulation subsidy for the Cosy Homes pilot project in addition to regional council support it was asking for.

It also asked the district council to waive or reduce consent fees associated with installing a freestanding solid fuel burner for households.

Ms Whyte said the Clutha District Council's proposed fee of $315 for the fuel burner installation was significant for many Milton households.

The trust wanted to replace 50 non-compliant burners and insulate 50 homes, which would help improve the air quality and health and warmth of homes in Milton.

''For every dollar spent on insulation, it saves $6 for the income.''

The trust aimed to have the goal of 50 houses completed no later than March next year.

As part of its proposal, the trust also wanted to host a clean heat and air expo in Milton next month.

The Clutha District Council received the proposal as part of feedback on its annual plan for 2017-18.

samuel.white@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment