Mackay Council solar sites – the Mackay Regional Council has voted to invite tenders from 16 shortlisted respondents for the installation of solar systems at 20 council sites.
Mackay Council Solar
An ordinary meeting held by the Mackay Regional Council yesterday voted to ask for tenders from shortlisted Expressions of Interest (EOI) respondents – a pool of 16. They’re hoping to install solar systems at 20 sites around Mackay, according to the council website. These sites are:
- Mackay Civic Precinct ArtSpace
- Mackay Civic Precinct Administration Building
- Mackay Civic Precinct Entertainment Centre and Convention Centre (MECC)
- Wellington St Administration Building
- The Dome – Dudley Denny City Library
- Gordon White Library
- Bluewater Lagoon
- Paget Depot
- Nebo Road Water Treatment Plant
- Mt Bassett Sewer Pump Station
- Mirani Depot Site
- Paget Waste Transfer Station
- Sarina Administration Centre including Bob Wood Hall and Library
- Sarina Sewerage Treatment Plant
- Mackay South Sewerage Treatment Plant
- Mackay North Sewerage Treatment Plant
- Dumbleton Weir
- Mirani Sewerage Treatment Plant
- Pioneer Swim Centre
- Sydney St SPS
According to the Daily Mercury, the council’s yearly electricity bill is around $7 million – with $3 million of that from street lights and $2 million to power the city centre. Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said that every $1 million the council saves could lead to a 1% reduction in rates bills.
According to Mackay Regional Council CEO Craig Doyle they an assortment of options including a large-scale solar farm, waste-to-energy and a hydro turbine, but ended up deciding on small-scale solar on specific sites instead:
“We called for EOIs in September last year to investigate options around renewable energy and explored both site-specific and large-scale options,” Mr Doyle said. “It was decided that small-scale, site-specific solar systems would suit council’s needs best.”
Mr Doyle elaborated on the council’s ultimate aims: “This renewable energy program aligns with our Environmental Sustainability Strategy with one of the aims being to become a ‘low-carbon, resource-efficient and productive organisation’.
This news follows an encouraging trend of councils looking to minimise their ecological footprint – for example, Lismore City Council’s 100kw floating solar farm has recently been completed. This will help them reach the target of generating all required electricity via renewable sources by 2023 and we’d love to see other councils following suit.
