Mareeba Shire Council’s solar project is charging ahead with several sites now fitted with solar power systems.
Nine Council-owned facilities across the Shire including swimming pools, treatment plants, pump stations and the Mareeba Cedric Davies Community Hub will be connected to solar photovoltaic infrastructure.
Mareeba Shire Mayor Angela Toppin said the million-dollar project was made possible by the Queensland Government’s Works for Queensland Program and was at no cost to the ratepayer.
“We are extremely grateful to the State Government for allowing Council to invest in such an important environmental initiative that will result in long-term benefits for the community,” Cr Toppin said.
“The solar panels could save Council over $100,000 a year which is a significant saving for a small rural Council such as ours.”
It is estimated that Council will cut electricity costs by transitioning around 31% of the sites’ energy usage to renewable energy, substantially reducing Council’s carbon emissions by approximately 600 tons per year.
Locations include Dimbulah Swimming Pool, Mareeba Swimming Pool, Kuranda Aquatic Centre, Mareeba Water Treatment Plant, Kuranda Water Treatment Plant, Cedric Davies Community Hub, Centenary Booster Pump Station, Mareeba Water Treatment Plant Booster Pump and Mareeba Wastewater Treatment Plant.
In 2017, Council installed solar panels on the Rankin Street office and Kowa Street depot, resulting in savings over $150,000 per year.
The project is on track to be completed by 30 June 2021.