Sustainable solar power installed at Graytown Community Hub
The Graytown Community Hub is being powered sustainably after the committee received Strathbogie Shire Council funding to install solar panels.
The Graytown Community Hub committee received $23,000 in Council’s 2019/20 Budget for the installation.
Previously powered by a generator, the equipment was noisy and impractical due to the increasing cost of fuel with the closest diesel located in Nagambie, an almost 30-minute drive.
Strathbogie Shire Council Mayor Cr Chris Raeburn said Council undertook a request for quotation process and Euroa-based company BD North East Electrics were selected as the preferred tenderer.
“This is one of the first completely off-grid systems installed by Council and we are proud to support the Graytown Community Hub in this way,” Cr Raeburn said.
“The Hub will now be powered year-round by a sustainable energy source and members no longer have to deal with the difficulties associated with running a generator.”
“The system will have significant capacity for the current uses of the site and the battery has the ability to plug-in to the existing generator to top up the battery if required.”
Graytown Community Hub committee secretary/treasurer Julie Sims said they were happy to get solar power after running on a generator for many years.
“Solar is better for the environment and will make things much easier for us,” she said.
“As Graytown is a small remote area having a community centre means that we can engage with our neighbours in a safe environment.”
“We hope to use the community centre for more events now we have solar power.”