DAVID Bolton, 66, was admitted to Canberra Hospital with breathing difficulties, as he fought the ACT bureaucracy and an unsympathetic neighbour in Fraser on woodsmoke pollution.

“I had been warned that dealing with the ACT Environment Protection Authority was both arduous and futile,” he wrote in a five-page document to Clean Air Canberra, before passing away in February. “CityNews” does not infer that the neighbour’s choice of heating was responsible for Mr Bolton’s death. 

“My neighbours have both ducted gas and electric reverse-cycle systems, and a woodfire heater, which they previously used occasionally and responsibly.

“Over the years, their growing preference to use the woodfire heater became apparent.”

In 2019, David made 17 calls to Access Canberra, starting on April 23, to discuss the air pollution, reporting on significant odour and smoke.

In 2020, he called Access Canberra a further 15 times, chasing up on the countless reports he had submitted.

“He became so nervous about winter time, because the neighbours just kept putting whatever they wanted in the fireplace and burning it,” says David’s son, Matthew, 29.

“At one stage dad was really impacted, and he had to go to a hospital, so later on in 2020 I decided to move in and stay with him to try and help him through this situation.”

In 2022, Matthew discovered his dad had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“It caused him to have airflow blockages and breathing-related problems,” says Matthew.

“Anything like dust or smoke would really impact him.

“Dad tried to go to the neighbours and voice his growing concerns, but he was told to get double-glazing on his windows, and they suggested he stay inside.”

In formal complaints reported by David, he says the environment protection officers on duty seemed competent and willing to manage the complaint initially, but after years of complaints from him and other neighbours, the issue was left unresolved.

Matthew says he knows the neighbour received multiple warnings, but nothing permanent was ever done. 

“He’s not listening, they gave out the first warning and then they closed the case, and then he just started burning again,” he says.

“Winter time was the scary part for him, for all of us, no one wants to see their parents suffering like he was, it’s not a good feeling.

“Dad got more and more frustrated with the process and going through everything, every time they closed a case, they didn’t reopen it. They didn’t look at the files or anything so they just end up doing the same thing over and over again.”

It’s too late now to solve the problem for David, but Matthew is desperate to see some changes so that no one else has to suffer through the same fight.

“I would love to actually see actions from those responsible, instead of continuing to give out warnings to actually look at the recorded history and do something,” he says.

“I keep hearing the government say they care about the environment, but at the moment I’m not convinced. They are very good at talking about it, but when actions are needed, they’re not very good at all.

“We can’t do anything about it. Dad has done what he was meant to do and nothing’s happened.

“So, I’m hoping in the future people will realise woodfires damage people’s health, and I’m hoping that in the end we can phase them out. That would be a good solution.”

In some final remarks to Clean Air Canberra, David said he was left feeling manipulated by Access Canberra, as though there was a lack of interest, with comments that suggested the exercise of reporting was pointless.

An ACT government spokesperson said the Environmental Protection Agency was aware of this matter and had engaged with the complainant.

“The EPA can only take regulatory action in such cases where there is sufficient evidence to establish that an environmental nuisance has occurred pursuant to the Environment Protection Act 1997,” the spokesperson says.

“In October 2021, the ACT Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment provided a report on the ‘EPA response to excessive and potentially toxic smoke from neighbour’s wood heater’. The report’s findings identified several opportunities for improvements for Access Canberra and the EPA around the complaint investigation process, information provided to the complainant; and the continued use of wood-fired heaters in the ACT.

“The EPA has reviewed its procedures for how wood-heater complaints are assessed.

“Access Canberra, through the Environment Protection Authority, responds to air pollution both proactively and reactively by focusing its resources where the risks of harm, unsafe practices or misconduct are greatest in the community in accordance with its Accountability Commitment framework.”