Our journey
What council has achieved in the past in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transport or broader sustainability
In 2009 Bathurst Regional Council created a staff position with responsibilities to monitor and report on energy use of Council operations. Then in 2010/11 Council committed $100,000 seed funding to establish a Revolving Energy Fund. The fund allows a proportion of the savings made as a result of investment in energy saving projects to be diverted into a fund that is used to invest in future energy saving initiatives. Since the initial seed funding Council has invested a further $200,000 capital funding into the program.
Ten projects have been funded or part funded by the Revolving Energy Fund, reducing Council’s grid electricity use by an estimated 500 MWh and CO2 emissions by 434 tonnes.
The projects have included the installation of solar arrays at Mount Panorama, Council’s Works Depot, Small Animal Pound, Water Filtration Plant, Waste Water Treatment Works, the Library Art Gallery complex; and lighting upgrades at the National Motor Racing Museum, Depot, Art Gallery and Aerodrome.
What council hopes to achieve in the future in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transport or broader sustainability
A key theme of the Bathurst Community Strategic Plan is environmental sustainability and the Plan has stated objectives to promote sustainable and energy efficient growth, to minimise the City’s environmental footprint and to encourage less car dependency.
What council hopes to gain from being a member of the Cities Power Partnership
Through membership of the Cities Power Partnership Council hopes to continue the rollout of projects through the Revolving Energy Fund, to build on the savings already made and to promote the efficiencies being made in a regional city to other local government areas and communities across Australia. Council is also currently investigating projects in the area of energy efficient street lighting and sustainable transport, including electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Council anticipates that being a Cities Power Partner will help it leverage learnings made by other Councils and organisations and increase the likelihood of successful project outcomes in these areas.