Community facilities across Melbourne – including swimming pools, shopping centres and public housing buildings – will be given funding to create and share their own electricity, under an innovative Brumby Government program unveiled today by Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings.
Mr Jennings announced the successful $2.57 million Smart Energy Zones projects at the Craig Family Centre in Ashburton, a funding recipient which will receive power from a gas-fired co-generation plant to be installed at the adjoining Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre.
“These projects will help these communities reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and cut greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Jennings said.
“Smart Energy Zones enable energy to be generated closer to where it is used – in homes, workplaces and community facilities.”
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to safeguard the environment and secure our economy for future generations of Victorians by promoting innovative ways of dealing with the uncertainties of climate change.
“Smart Energy Zones enable energy to be generated closer to where it is used – in homes, workplaces and community facilities. These small and medium scale projects will slash greenhouse gas emissions and showcase new energy solutions that will create jobs in the green economy.”
Recipients of the funding include:
• Vic Urban, which will, as part of revitalising the central business area of Dandenong, will supply electricity, heating, cooling and recycled water to surrounding offices via reticulation network;
• Banyule City Council will build a gas-fired co-generation plant to supply electricity and heating to a local shopping centre. Excess heat will warm the Greensborough pool;
• Manningham City Council’s green civic precinct will include a community centre connected via a micro-grid to supply electricity to surrounding council offices;
• Boroondara City Council will install a gas-fired co-generation plant to power the Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre with heat and electricity and power to the Craig Family Centre. Neighbouring buildings will receive lighting retrofits and solar panels.
• CERES environmental park in Brunswick will work with a local shopping centre to take their organic waste to feed a biogas digester. The gas created by the digester will power the CERES site along with new solar and wind generation;
• The Department of Human Services will supply the new public housing buildings in Carlton with gas-fired co-generation plants, as well as wind generators on the roofs. Energy efficiency measures will be incorporated into the buildings.
Member for Burwood Bob Stensholt MP welcomed the funding announcement.
“The Smart Energy Zones program is a wonderful initiative and I’m very pleased Ashburton, with its exciting project, is one of the areas leading the way in terms of developing practical, efficient solutions that will benefit the community and the environment,” Mr Stensholt said.
The Smart Energy Zones program is a Sustainability Fund initiative, managed by the Brumby Government agency Sustainability Victoria. It aims to demonstrate how leading Victorian communities can dramatically cut greenhouse emissions through thinking creatively about the supply and demand for energy.
For more information visit resourcesmart.vic.gov.au