Paul Bibby
Two hundred tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions will be saved each year at the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre in Murwillumbah thanks to the installation of a 486-panel solar system.
Coming in at a cost of $198,202, which came from the State Government, the system is the largest to be installed on a Tweed Council facility.
It will meet 42 per cent of the Centre’s power needs, saving it $42,500 a year.
‘Council is committed to protecting and enhancing the Tweed’s beautiful natural environment for current and future generations,” Tweed Deputy Mayor Chris Cherry said.
‘One of the ways we are doing that is by committing to produce 25 per cent of our own electricity from renewable sources by 2022, and 50 per cent by 2025.
‘With this installation, half of the Council buildings targeted for solar have now had panels installed, saving 750 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere. ‘
The system will save 4,725 tonnes of CO2 emissions over it’s lifespan, the equivalent of 40 passenger vehicles’ driving for one year.
Joining the deputy mayor at the announcement was 11-year-old local Alyce Togo, who recently campaigned to have compost bins placed in all classrooms at her school and participated in the recent Clean Up Australia Day at Chinderah.
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