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CVGA NEWS
“Lighting the Regions”
MEDIA RELEASE 01/05/2013- update
16 REGIONAL VICTORIAN COUNCILS JOIN FORCES ON REDUCING
STREET LIGHTING ENERGY & MAINTENANCE COSTS
Sixteen local governments across north, west and central
Victoria, have joined forces to develop a combined submission to the Federal
Government for funds to upgrade 23,000 streetlights with energy efficient
technology which is expected to save over $40 million in electricity and
maintenance costs over the next 20 years. The announcement of successful
applicants in expected in June 2013.
The Lighting the Regions project is a joint effort
between the Central
Goldfields, Hepburn, Pyrenees, Loddon, Swan Hill, Gannawarra, Mount Alexander,
Greater Bendigo, Buloke, Ararat, Northern Grampians, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Yarriambiack,
West Wimmera and Mildura Councils and the Central Victoria Greenhouse Alliance
and Wimmera Mallee Sustainability Alliance
Central
Victoria Greenhouse Alliance Chair, Karen Corr/ Wimmera Mallee Sustainability
Alliance Chair, Ray Kingston said upgrading streetlights to date has been a
challenging process, Lighting the Regions is about local governments taking on
this challenge and combining resources to reduce energy costs.
“The proposed project would run over three years
and will see streetlight globes and fittings upgraded to new models that
require up to 68% less electricity to run.
“For years people across these regions have been
replacing lights in their homes with energy efficient bulbs to save money, but
every night in streets and parks they see thousands of old, inefficient,
street-lights switched on.
“We have put forward the strongest case possible
for what we believe will be the largest regional streetlight changeover project
in Australian history.
“Street lighting currently costs the region $2.2
million dollars each year in electricity and maintenance. Given increases in
energy and maintenance costs, this will increase to $6 million per year by
2032, a total cost of $73.23 million over that period.
“A successful outcome for this application would see
reduced costs for these regional and small rural shires in the order of $41
million, freeing up much needed funds for other important infrastructure works.
“The participating local governments cover almost
half of Victoria and we are pleased that we have been able to submit an
application to the Federal Government through the Community Energy Efficiency
Program to assist with funds for this $9 million dollar project,” said Ms Corr/Mr
Kingston.
She/He said the project will provide direct
benefits back to our communities, some that have been hard hit by drought,
floods and fire over the last ten years.
John Harvey Executive Office Central Victorian Greenhouse
Alliance, said our member councils looking for ways to reduce energy costs to
get the best value for ratepayers.
“Participating in the Lighting the Regions project would
provide us with an opportunity to change our regions streetlights and create
significant savings that may not have been possible on our own".
“The Central Victorian and Western Mallee regions
have over 21,000 lights suitable for upgrade which currently incur significant,
ongoing electricity and maintenance costs every year.
“Potential savings from a regional project such as
this is expected to be in the order of $14 million over 20 years. These are
savings that will directly benefit ratepayers and the broader community and can
be used for other local purposes”.
Our regional network service provider Powercor who
provides the lighting and infrastructure is broadly supportive of this bid and
we look forward to working with them to implement the project if the bid is successful
said John Harvey.
Ms Corr/Mr Kingston said Lighting the Regions is an
opportunity to implement a once in a generation change to street lighting that
will save local governments significantly, allowing them to provide better,
cost effective services to our communities.
“We are looking forward to the application being
well received by the Federal Government,” said Ms Corr/Mr Kingston
She/He said a successful Lighting the Regions
Application will require the 16 participating local governments to approve and
allocate three million dollars collectively over three years to implement the
project.
Media contact information:
Regional:
Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance Wimmera Mallee Sustainability
Alliance
Karen Corr, Chair Ray
Kingston, Chair
0419 006 243 0413
211 072
John Harvey
0401 370 485
**Please Note, costs and savings are indicative and
based on assumptions such as a 5% increase in energy and maintenance,
compounded over the next 20 years, this is considered a conservative estimate
as energy prices are likely to increase by more than this.
Central
Victorian Energy Efficiency Program Underway!
The 'Your Business Your Future' program aims to help Small and Medium
Enterprises improve their energy efficiency and reduce costs.
Date: 06/01/2013
Category: Information
The Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance Inc.
and its company Sustainable Regional Australia Pty. Ltd. will shortly announce a program of workshops and events to be held across Central Victoria. The aim is to provide information on energy efficiency to Small Businesses and how they can reduce their energy bills.
This Program is supported by the Commonwealth Government’s Energy Efficiency Information Grants
Program, as announced by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Efficiency, Greg Combet, on 17 May 2012.
CVGA Executive Officer John Harvey says,
“Our Association is delighted to have received this grant which will enable us
to deliver information and services for SME’s across Central Victoria, so they
can improve the energy efficiency of their business".
"Our program provides a friendly
face to face contact with at least 500 local businesses
in our region. It will help them identify and undertake cost effective energy
efficiency improvements that will save them money in the long term.”
Karen Corr, Chair of the CVGA says
“This is a fantastic program for our region. As a result of our program business
in Central Victoria will be able to minimise exposure to rising energy costs
and remain competitive in an ever increasing carbon constrained economy.".
The key components of the CVGA project include:
- provision of high quality business energy assessments
- support the development of a network of local business
energy efficiency champions
- showcase energy efficiency technologies and provide
information on local suppliers
- host information events in townships across the region
- make available print and electronic materials, highlighting links to other business information offerings, including fact sheets,
videos, case studies and benchmarking.
For more information or to register
your interest in the program
email
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or
call
Sustainable Regional Australia on
035479 1900
CVGA Refit n' Save.
practical help for our communities
Our Refit n’ Save project is drawing to a close in its current form, but will continue with its web presence and will be relaunched in 2012.
We have engaged over 1000 households in practical 'retrofit' activities to reduce their energy and water use by providing networks,
products and services to support the implementation of energy and water smart
advice.
The program has provided employment through out our region and stimulated local sales of energy efficiency products sourced from local suppliers.
Refit n’ Save is an initiative of the CVGA and has been delivered locally in collaboration with five community sustainability
groups based in Ballarat, Bendigo, Hepburn Shire, Ararat and Swan Hill.
The Project is supported by the Victorian Government Sustainability Fund, managed by Sustainability Victoria.
for more information visit the website
or please contact Jane Knight at
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