WOODHEATER BUYBACK SCHEME MUST BE MAINTAINED
	State Must Contribute Funding and Lobby Feds
	The Tasmanian Greens today have called on the State government to assist in funding the successful woodheater buyback scheme, amidst reports that the Federal funding for the program has dried up, and that funding for a smoke patrol initiative has also expired. Greens Member for Bass, Kim Booth MHA, said it was crucial with the onset of winter in a month’s time that all efforts to address air pollution in the Tamar Valley airshed are maintained and enforced. “While it is heartening that the woodheater buyback scheme was so successful those efforts could be wasted and undermined if adequate resourcing is not maintained to continue the heating conversion rate, as well as ensuring that smoke patrol programs are also continued, and the Greens are calling on the State government to boost funding to these areas” Mr Booth said. “Air pollution in the Tamar Valley airshed always becomes a critical issue on an annual basis come winter, we all know it’s a serious health and environmental problem, and therefore it beggars belief for the funding of alternatives and smoke enforcement programs are allowed to run dry.” “State Labor also has a responsibility here, especially given its blind support for a polluting pulp mill which will also contribute to the amount of pollutants pumped into the Tamar airshed, so the government must also contribute financially to ensure these programs continue.” “The Greens are also calling on both State Labor and Liberal parties to lobby their federal counterparts to renew the funding for the woodheater buyback scheme,” Mr Booth said.