Council on TRAC to meet its renewable energy goals
16 April 2019
Tweed Shire Council has installed its largest solar system to date on a Council facility, saving 200 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year – that’s the equivalent emissions from 11 average households.
Deputy Mayor of Tweed, Cr Chris Cherry and local environmental champion, 11-year-old Alyce Togo, this morning flicked the switch on a new 486-panel array at the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre in Murwillumbah.
“I’m so pleased to be here today with Alyce to make the switch to solar at TRAC and I’d like to thank the NSW Government for providing $198,202 in funding for this project through the Stronger Country Communities Fund.
Council is committed to protecting and enhancing the Tweed’s beautiful natural environment for current and future generations, who are represented here today by Alyce,” Cr Cherry said.
“One of the ways we are doing that is by committing to produce 25 per cent of our own electricity from renewable sources by 2022, and 50 per cent by 2025.
“With this installation, half of the Council buildings targeted for solar have now had panels installed, saving 750 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere. We’re now well on our way to meeting the renewable energy goals outlined in Council’s Renewable Energy Action Plan,” she said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro congratulated Tweed Shire Council on completion of the updates at TRAC.
“This is a fantastic outcome for Tweed and Lismore and another great example of how the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund is, yet again, delivering real, tangible improvements in our regional communities. New solar panels provide huge environmental benefits and will cut operation costs, ensuring this well-loved community facility will be enjoyed for many generations to come,” Mr Barilaro said.
To celebrate the TRAC switch to solar and Council’s commitment to future generations, Alyce made a symbolic ride down the TRAC waterslide, bursting through a sign featuring the words ‘200 tonnes of emissions saved’.
Alyce is concerned about environmental issues and recently campaigned to have compost bins placed in all classrooms at her school and participated in the recent Clean Up Australia Day at Chinderah.
Since the Plan was endorsed in 2018, Council has already installed more than 440kW of solar at seven Council facilities nearly doubling Council’s solar capacity.
The rooftop installation of 486 solar panels (165kW) will enable Tweed’s top aquatic centre to:
• Meet 24 per cent of TRAC’s own power needs through renewable sources;
• Save over 4,725 tonnes of CO2-e over the life of the installation - that’s the equivalent of 40 passenger vehicles’ driving for one year;
• Reduce the pool’s annual power bill by nearly 20 per cent or about $42,500.
The pool is Council’s third largest facility for electricity use, after the Banora Point Wastewater Treatment Plant and the water pump station at Bray Park Water Treatment Plant.
“With an electricity bill of nearly $235,000 last year - just over 1,000,000 kWh - these savings are certainly good news for ratepayers as well as the environment,” she said.
“They will allow Council to provide more programs and services for the community through maintaining a vital community resource, which contributes to the health and wellbeing of the Tweed.”
To find out more about Council’s Renewable Energy Action Plan, visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/SustainableOperations For a guide to selecting a solar system, visit https://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/Energy
Downloads
Photo 1(JPG, 97KB)
Caption: Alyce Togo bursts through a sign celebrating 200 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved annually at TRAC, watched by Operations Coordinator Aquatic Facilities Joanne Hogg and Councillor Ron Cooper.
Photo 2(JPG, 185KB)
Caption: Deputy Mayor of Tweed, Cr Chris Cherry and Alyce Togo, 11, from Kingscliff, cut a cake model of the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre, complete with solar panels.
Photo 3(JPG, 158KB)
Caption: Alyce Togo from Kingscliff jumps for joy at the good news for the environment at Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre in Murwillumbah.