Launceston winters are cold, and for many households, wood heating has long been the most reliable, affordable way to stay warm.
Right now, the City of Launceston is asking residents to provide feedback on domestic wood smoke. This is your opportunity to share your experience and help shape solutions that work for real homes, real winters, and real people.
Take the Survey
👉 Click here to read more and share your feedback.
Why This Matters
Wood smoke is a genuine concern during winter in Launceston. Air quality impacts everyone, particularly children, older residents, and those with respiratory conditions.
At the same time, many Launceston homes are:
- Over 100 years old
- Poorly insulated and hard to heat
- Unsuited to efficient heat pump use, especially in winter
For these homes, wood heating remains one of the most effective and dependable heating options — especially during cold snaps and power outages.
The challenge is not wood heating itself, but how it’s done.
It’s also important to recognise that wood heaters provide a reliable and dependable source of heat during winter, particularly during severe weather events. When storms bring down power lines and cause outages, homes relying solely on reverse‑cycle air conditioning or heat pumps can be left without any heating at all.
Wood Heating: The Reality in Launceston
When operated correctly, modern wood heaters:
- Produce strong radiant heat that suits older homes
- Use less firewood
- Burn more efficiently
- Produce only a fraction of the smoke generated by older models
However, many homes across the city are still using:
- Wood heaters 20 years old or more
- Poorly performing or deteriorating units
- Unseasoned wood
- Incorrect operating practices
These factors significantly increase smoke emissions — and that affects everyone.
Practical Solutions, Not Blanket Bans
Heating Launceston homes requires practical, locally informed solutions.
That includes:
- Encouraging the upgrade from old wood heaters to modern clean‑burning models
- Promoting correct operation and use of well‑seasoned wood
- Recognising that one‑size‑fits‑all solutions don’t work for older, drafty homes
- Balancing air quality improvements with cost, reliability, and energy security
Residents deserve a voice in shaping policies that affect how they heat their homes.
What Local Residents Are Saying
Many Launceston residents agree:
- Wood heating works — especially in older homes
- Poor air quality is an issue during winter
- The solution lies in better technology and better practices, not removing a vital heating source altogether
Your experience matters, and your feedback helps ensure decisions are grounded in reality, not assumptions.
Take the Survey
The City of Launceston has opened a public survey on domestic wood smoke.
If you:
- Live in Launceston
- Own or use a wood heater
- Care about keeping your home warm and protecting air quality
We encourage you to take part.
👉 Click here to read more and share your feedback.
A Community Issue. A Community Voice.
We all share the same city, the same winters, and the same air.
By participating in the survey, you’re helping support:
- Cleaner air
- Warmer homes
- Fair, practical outcomes for Launceston residents
Have your say today.
