Air pollution

1. Overview

Air pollution can be a nuisance and affect the daily activities of you and your neighbours. In some cases, air pollution could cause serious health issues.

Use the table below for more information about who to contact to report air pollution.

2. Odour

Odours can be a nuisance to neighbours and impact people’s health. Odour can come from many sources, like:

• compost heaps
• rotting vegetation
• fertilisers
• rubbish
• septic tanks
• chemicals.

We investigate odours coming from residential premises in line with Local Law No. 10 (Public Health) 1999. We investigate:

• how strong the odour is
• how long the odour has been occurring for
• the type of odour
• the sensitivity of the environment
• the effect the odour has or may have
• the opinions of other neighbours.

If we find that the odour is causing a nuisance, we may issue a compliance notice to the person causing the odour. The notice will explain the problem and give a timeframe for it to be fixed. We may issue a fine if the person causing the odour does not comply with the notice.

Some odours may be dealt with by other government agencies.

To help reduce odour nuisance, you can:

• reduce rubbish by:
  • composting and mulching organic waste and garden clippings
  • recycling plastic, glass, paper and cans
• be careful when storing and using chemicals like paint which may cause strong and offensive odour
• think about weather conditions before starting work that will create an odour
• try to avoid windy days when fertilising and spray fertiliser with water to help it absorb into the soil
• enclose or cover compost bins or vegetation and regularly turn and aerate to reduce odour
• have your septic tank regularly serviced and pumped out when needed.

For more information or to report an issue, please call us on 07 3412 3412 or email us at council@logan.qld.gov.au.

3. Smoke and open air fires

Smoke from fires can be a nuisance to neighbours and can cause health problems. You may need a permit before you can light a fire.

You cannot light a fire for any reason when there is a declared fire ban or fire emergency.

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) and Rural Fire Service (RFS) supervise open air fire issues. To check for fire bans in Logan, please visit the Rural Fire Service website. You must get a permit before lighting any fire larger than two metres in any direction. Permits are available for free from your local fire warden.

Reasons you can light small fires are described in our Local Law No. 10 (Public Health) 1999.

Fires smaller than 2 meters in any direction - properties under 4000 square metres

Fires that are smaller than two meters in any direction can only be lit if they meet any one of the following conditions:

• it is for cooking food on or in a gas, wood or coal barbeque, hangi or similar device
• it is part of a Boy Scout or Girl Guide activity
• it is for outdoor heating in an enclosed fireplace or similar device and the fire or any burning material does not come out of the fireplace.

The fire must:

• contain only clean, dry, non-toxic and combustible material
• be lit with a match, cigarette lighter, candle, lamp, blow torch or similar device
• not cause a nuisance.

Fires smaller than 2 meters in any direction - properties of 4000 square metres or larger

Fires that are smaller than two meters in any direction can only be lit if they meet all of the following conditions:

• the fire has only clean, dry, non-toxic and combustible material burning as fuel
• only one fire is burned on the property at any time
• appropriate fire-fighting equipment are on the property, including water, hoses and pumps
• the fire is lit after 7:00am and put out before 5:00pm on the same day (unless the fire is for cooking food in or on a gas, wood or coal fire barbeque, hangi or similar device; or is for outdoor heating in an enclosed fireplace or similar device and the fire or any burning material does not come out of the fireplace, and the fire does not cause a nuisance)
• the fire is not burning at any time when there is a Queensland Fire Danger Rating at a scale of very high or above
• ashes are wet down when the fire is put out
• the fire is at least 10 metres from any property boundary or building
• the fire is attended at all times by a person who is not a minor.

Investigating reports of fire and smoke nuisance

We investigate reports of fires and smoke causing a nuisance under our Local Law No. 10 (Public Health) 1999.

To report a smoke nuisance, please email council@logan.qld.gov.au including as many details about your concern as possible.

Our teams are not fire fighters and will not attend complaints about fire emergencies. For fire emergencies, please call 000. For enquiries about lighting fires, please call 13 74 68.

If we find the fire is causing a nuisance, we will talk to the person lighting the fire first to see if we can fix the issue. If we get more reports of fires at the same property, we will investigate the reports.

For reports of fires, we investigate:

• the size of the fire
• the location of the fire
• the reason for the fire
• whether there is a permit for the fire.

For reports of smoke, we investigate:

• the amount of smoke
• how long the smoke has been a problem
• what type of smoke is burning
• the sensitivity of the environment
• the impact the smoke has had or may have.

If we find that a fire or smoke is a nuisance, we may issue a compliance notice and give a timeframe for the problem to be fixed. We may issue a fine if the person responsible does not comply with the notice

How you can help to reduce fire and smoke nuisances

• Get a permit before you light a fire bigger that two metres in any direction. The permit is issued by the Rural Fire Service.
• Do not light a fire if there is a fire ban.
• Make sure you have fire-fighting equipment on the property.
• Only burn clean, dry, non-toxic and combustible material that does not cause smoke, avoid wood products such as chipboard as they contain formaldehyde, or treated or painted timber, as the smoke from these products is hazardous to the health of others.
• Don't burn wet and green vegetation, as it causes excessive smoke, and doesn't generate as much heat.
• Make sure the fire is at least 10 metres from your neighbour's boundary or buildings
• Recycle, reuse or compost waste instead of burning it.
• Take large branches or trees to your local tip or transfer station. It's free to dispose of green waste in Logan.
• Make sure you put the fire out with water when you have finished burning.

4. Chimney smoke

Smoke from chimneys on residential premises can be a nuisance to your neighbours. It can even be detrimental to people’s health. The information on this page will help you to reduce smoke and meet legal requirements.

It is your responsibility to ensure your wood heater operates correctly. You should only burn dry seasoned firewood. If your wood heater smokes excessively, it causes air pollution. Smoke contains fine particles that can affect people’s lungs. These fine particles can be dangerous to the very young, the elderly and those with existing respiratory problems.

The law

Under our Local Law No. 10 (Public Health) 1999, the release of chimney smoke on residential premises may constitute a nuisance if it causes or is likely to cause harm to human health or safety, personal injury, or property damage.

Investigating complaints

We will investigate if issues between neighbours cannot be resolved and further complaints are made. We can issue a compliance notice if the open-air fire or smoke is determined to be a nuisance. This requires the nuisance to be rectified within a specified time. Fines may be issued for non-compliance.

When investigating a smoke complaint, we will consider:

• the amount of smoke
• the duration and rate of emission
• the smoke’s characteristics and qualities
• the sensitivity of the environment into which the smoke is being emitted
• the impact that it has had or may have
• views of any other neighbours or complainants
• other relevant criteria

Be a good neighbour

We encourage you to firstly talk to your neighbours. You should find out what concerns they might have. You should even ask for suggestions to solve problems so situations don’t escalate. Solutions can often be found which please everyone. Make a habit of checking your wood heaters chimney for excessive smoke.

All wood heaters will emit smoke at different times, regardless of their type. Due to the nature of their heating system. If your house is close to other homes, the smoke is likely to cause a nuisance on a still winter's night. If there is more distance between houses and the smoke isn't likely to be intense. To keep your house warm, install insulation in the ceiling. You can also close doors to unoccupied rooms. Draw curtains to keep the heat in and block all draughts.

As an alternative, gas heaters are clean burning, cost effective and less polluting. To keep your house warm, install insulation in the ceiling. You can also close doors to unoccupied rooms. Draw curtains to keep the heat in and block all draughts.

Reducing smoke emissions

• When buying a heater, you need to make sure you have an appropriately sized wood heater. If your heater is too large, you will need to turn it down. That reduces its efficiency and causes excessive smoke. You are responsible for meeting the Australian Standards (AS4013 and AS2918).
• Clean and maintain your chimney - at the beginning and end of winter clean and maintain your chimney and wood heater. Check for rust, the glass door for cracks and door ropes seals for deterioration. Lubricate the air-slide control with high-temperature grease.
• Choose your firewood carefully - the dryness of firewood makes all the difference to the amount of smoke emitted from a chimney. Wet or green wood causes excessive smoke and doesn’t generate as much heat. Dry wood is lighter in colour and usually when banged together makes a hollow cracking sound. Wet or green wood is heavier and usually darker in colour. Don’t use wood products such as chipboard, as they contain formaldehyde. Don’t use treated or painted timber, as the smoke from these products is hazardous to the health of others.
• Stack wood under a cover and in a dry ventilated area - wood should be air-dried for at least eight months before burning. Keep wood under cover and stack in a criss-cross manner to allow air to circulate.
• Check your chimney - all wood heaters tend to smoke when first lit but not last for more than 15 minutes. Check the chimney often, and if it is smoking too much, reduce the fuel load and open the airflows.
• Burn a smart fire - start with dry kindling and completely open the air controls. Do not use oil or fuel soaked rags. When the fire is well established, add larger wood pieces. Make sure not to choke the fire by overloading it with logs. An efficient fire should have bright swirling flames and red glowing embers. There should be little or no smoke coming from the chimney.
• Keep air controls open at night - avoid shutting down the air controls / damper overnight. Doing this also causes excessive smoke. Let the fire burn out completely overnight, as there be enough heat to keep your house warm until morning.

For more information call us on 07 3412 3412 or email us on council@logan.qld.gov.au.

5. Dust and dirt from construction

Dust from construction work or other activities can be a nuisance to neighbours. Dust could damage property and make people ill.

If you are planning to excavate, build or landscape, you should let your neighbours know.

Investigating reports of dust nuisance

We investigate reports of dust causing a nuisance under our Local Law No. 10 (Public Health) 1999. We investigate:

• the amount of dust
• how long the dust has been occurring
• the type of dust
• the sensitivity of the environment
• the effect the dust is having or may have
• the opinions of any other neighbours.

If we find the dust is causing a nuisance, we will issue a compliance notice to the person causing the dust. The notice will give details about the problem and a timeframe for it to be fixed. We may issue a fine if the person creating a dust nuisance does not comply with the notice.

How you can help reduce dust problems

To help reduce dust nuisance, you can:

• keep existing plants and grass on building sites as much as possible as they can act as dust barrier, lower wind speed and cut the amount of dust
• plan to do work in stages so you can leave some vegetation as barriers
• use on-site waste as a dust barrier, for example unused sheeting or roofing can be used as a dust barrier or mulched green waste spread on the ground is also a good barrier
• use physical barriers like fences. Fences made of shade cloth or a similar material can become a dust barrier around work areas. Think about the location, height and width of barrier fences before construction
• spray water on topsoil to reduce dust, make sure you use enough water to keep the topsoil damp and that you don't spray in strong wind
• consider using products like hydro mulch, which are best for large areas. Hydro mulch is made from pulped newspaper and water and forms a protective layer when sprayed on the ground.