Racing towards renewable energy

CHEAPER and cleaner energy for sporting facilities and halls is the focus for South Ward’s Labor candidates Bridget Aitchison and Cr Des Hudson.

Speaking at The Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club on Tuesday, the pair commended the facility for its sustainable energy practices and advocated towards a greener, cheaper future for the city’s infrastructure.

With the installation of new solar panels, Cr Hudson said the Greyhound Racing Club is a great example of the benefits of incorporating sustainable energy into their facility.

“We would be advocating that council should be taking a lead and looking at implementing solar technology on top of the roof tops on facilities such as community halls, our sporting clubs,” he said.

“This makes sure the costs associated with running clubs is reduced significantly and that money goes back towards supporting the teams.

“Let’s be a lead and take positive steps towards sustainability.”

Fellow South Ward candidate and campus dean at ACU Bridget Aitchison said as a first-time nominee for the City of Ballarat council it’s important for the next term of councillors to support renewable energy as it produces real, tangible benefits.

“Renewable energy alone can provide numerous jobs to help us in the post COVID recovery as well as give us clean air, water and a better atmosphere,” she said.

“I would like the next council, which I really hope I’m a part of, to move beyond net zero, to carbon negative and to providing renewable energy to our community facilities and also to our residents and businesses for all of Ballarat to benefit.”

Cr Hudson added, “It’s a win, win for the clubs and it’s a win, win for council to be seen as a leader and an advocate to many other organisations.”