Energy efficiency funding secured

NARACOORTE Lucindale Council is one of six South Australian councils to share in a multi-million-dollar funding boost from the Australian Government for energy efficiency upgrades to key facilities.

Council will receive $110,869 from the Community Energy Upgrades Fund (CEUF) to install rooftop solar energy systems at key sites.

The Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange (NRLE), council’s principal offices in Naracoorte’s DeGaris Place, and the Naracoorte Library + Town Hall will have rooftop solar systems installed over the next three years.

Council will match the grant allocation over this time to complete the projects for a total cost of $221,738.

The sites identified to benefit from the energy efficiency funding are Council’s biggest power users. Council already has some solar installed at the NRLE and its principal offices – as well as the Naracoorte Depot.

However, only the Naracoorte Depot solar system generates enough power to cover the running costs of the site.

Relatively short payback periods have been calculated for Council’s matched contribution to the project, which has the potential to reduce annual operating costs by more than $34,000 over time.

Council applied for the CEUF grant last financial year in line with the Priority Action in its Strategic Plan to ‘design and implement a program of actions to reduce energy and potable water consumption for council activities’.

Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said generations of Australians have enjoyed and benefitted from facilities in the local community, and with this latest round of funding from the Community Energy Upgrades Fund, the government is ensuring that these facilities will continue to operate for years to come.

Naracoorte Lucindale Mayor Patrick Ross welcomed the grant funding.

“Council always needs to consider ways to minimise energy costs and upgrading these facilities with solar is an important step,” Mayor Ross said.

“A feasibility study and analysis of energy use have identified these sites as council’s biggest energy users and also identified the required systems to help reduce power costs.

“This will be another step towards reducing council’s overall energy consumption.”