Solar systems for groups, social and sporty

EIGHT Ballarat organisations are to share four hundred and fifty thousand dollars as part of a solar energy package from Sustainability Victoria, and the State’s Building Works program.

Child and Family Services, McCallum Disability Services, Ballarat Regional Industries, Ballarat Cemeteries Trust, Ballarat Table Tennis Association, Ballarat Squash and Racquetball Association, the Old Colonists’ Association, and Uniting Care have all proposed solar projects, seen as beneficial and viable for funding by the Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions Inc, through their Community Power Hub initiative.

Cafs is set to install solar systems across their sites with a $30,000 injection. CEO Wendy Sturgess said the funding is an “intelligent” gift that “keeps on giving,” for the not-for-profit, committed to sustainability while working to support vulnerable children and families.

“We’re going to put solar panels on some of the roofs of residential houses and other places we provide services, with money we wouldn’t normally be able to access.” she said.

“Utility bills are significant for us, as they are for many in the community, so the ability to reduce those bills is phenomenal. We’ll save many thousands of dollars, it’s great for the environment and jobs.

“Any money we save is put back into our organisation, whether it’s pilot programs or infrastructure to make it stronger and more adaptable.”

McCallum is receiving $70,000 to install solar panels at eight disability housing sites, and BRI is getting $35,000 for solar panels which will offset costs at their workshop.

The Cemeteries Trust will install a battery to power the crematorium during outages with $80,000. The Table Tennis Association is receiving $35,000, and the Squash and Racquetball Association is getting $25,000, both to install solar systems to reduce costs and improve facilities.

The Old Colonists’ Association’s $75,000 will fund panels for 12 low-socioeconomic pensioners’ houses, and Uniting Care low-income housing will benefit from $100,000 worth of solar systems across the region.

BREAZE president, Mary Debrett said the program is a “win-win.”

“For climate, an investment in renewable energy is going to mean reduced emissions, and we only have one decade left in order to get the trajectory at the right slant, to meet the target of zero emissions by 2050,” she said.

“For the community, it means more jobs and more money into the community because of cost savings that will flow through to those people who are going to reap the benefits of that solar power.

“It’s a lovely thing for Ballarat and is going to be really welcomed, especially for social housing tenants who will really get the full benefit.”

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison said the diverse recipients are “delighted.”

“BREAZE have advocated so strongly for these different organisations to get these grants,” she said.

“This money will have short term affects of creating jobs locally, for suppliers and the solar industry, and long term jobs, as organisations will not have the power bills of the past, and will be able to reinvest that money back into their services.”