Colac Otway focus on sustainability

Published on 16 July 2020

A 30kW solar PV system has been installed on the Colac Community Library and Learning Centre by Colac Otway Shire Council in collaboration with the Department of Education, and using local installers Walsh Electrical.

Colac Otway Shire Chief Executive Peter Brown said the solar installation would provide significant environmental and economic benefits for both Colac Otway Shire and the Colac Secondary College.

The operating costs of Colac’s joint-use library facility are shared by Council and the Department of Education.

“The new solar system on the library is a great project that builds on the Council’s existing solar initiatives at its Colac Customer Service Centre and COPACC, Bluewater and its Pound Road Depot,” Mr Brown said.

“The library’s 30kW solar system is expected to generate around 40MWh annually, saving about $10,000 a year in electricity costs and preventing about 46 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2-e).

“In addition to the recent installation of solar PV at the Colac Library, lighting has also been upgraded to LED, further reducing the Council’s carbon emissions.

“A total of 746 fluorescent tubes and other lights have been retrofitted with LED equivalents across Council facilities to generate electricity savings of around 41kWh per day, or 10,660 kWh per year.

“This represents a financial saving of $2,770 and 12.5 tonnes of CO2–e per year,” he said.

“Colac Otway Shire is proudly well on its way to achieving its carbon neutral target and continues to advocate for and support a range of sustainability initiatives.

“Council has partnered with Barwon Water and local industries ALC and Bulla to deliver an Australian-first Renewable Organics Network in Colac,” Mr Brown said.

“The RON will transform significant amounts of organic waste from two of our shire’s major exporters into renewable energy and agricultural soil enhancers.”

Learn more about Colac Otway’s sustainability initiatives, including solar installations at https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Environment-Sustainability/Sustainable-living