City of Palmerston continues to grow its sustainable infrastructure, with its next solar energy project involving the installation of 270 rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels on the Palmerston Recreation Centre. This follows the 330 rooftop PV panels installed atop the City of Palmerston Library last year.

The Recreation Centre was identified as the second PV project for Council, following a review of major Council assets which took into consideration power consumption. 

In 2018 this community facility hosted more than 2,600 events, activities and meetings, seeing over 78,000 visitors. Implementing this project will offset a substantial amount of the power required for running this facility, reducing carbon emissions and electricity costs.

Estimated greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced to the equivalent of taking 17 passenger vehicles off our roads each year, with an estimated annual saving of over $30,000 based on current electricity costs.

The project is being delivered by local company, NC Electrical and Air-Conditioning, following a competitive tender process. Installation is expected to be completed and the panels operational by the end of June 2019. 

Council plans to continue to implement projects to reduce facility energy demands and associated costs, with the tender for the installation of PV panels for the Palmerston Civic Plaza roof currently open. 

Quote from City of Palmerston Mayor, Athina Pascoe-Bell 

“Council recognises its role as a community leader in environmental sustainability – demonstrating this leadership through investments in projects such as these, to improve our environment as well as reduce long-term costs.

Our community has expectations that, as well as being responsible for the provision of a great city, we should be striving for best-practice environmental outcomes. 

The installation of PV panels across several facilities reflects Council’s commitment to invest in renewable energy and provide positive outcomes for the community.”