Dr Markos, who is also chairman of the Tamar NRM Air Quality Working Group, said both groups he represented were supportive of council continuing to implement the Tamar Valley clean air programme.

"That alone is a multi-pronged attack on all aspects of wood smoke in the valley," he said.

It made sense to promote a standard outdoor burning by-law, Dr Markos said, in a city that is overseen by three different councils. He said Launceston's by-law was "very comprehensive" and that other council's needed to get on board for consistency in the region.

Seeking further funding for the wood heater buy-back programme and evaluating the introduction of a by-law that prevented the installation of new wood heaters in homes were other aims outlined in council's proposed strategic plan.

"Launceston is the success story of Australia in terms of what has been achieved," Dr Markos said.

He estimated that since 1990, about 16,000 wood heaters had been replaced so that just 5000 remained in use.