SHASA - State - Council partnership gets Solar refit of Dr Mackay Centre in Moruya done
On Thursday Dr Michael Holland, MP for Bega opened the Dr McKay Community Centre Electrification Project.
Last year the Southcoast Health & Sustainability Alliance (SHASA) secured funding of $49,977 from the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership 2025 Program to electrify the Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Dr McKay Community Centre. This is the first partnership between SHASA and the Eurobodalla Shire Council to upgrade a Council run facility.
The works undertaken in this project will assist the Council to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and make significant savings on their electricity bills.
This Project involved a very challenging installation by Micro Energy Systems of a 12.32 kilowatt photovoltaic solar system on an extremely steep rooftop and a 46 kilowatt hour battery.
It’s estimated that the solar system will produce 20,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year and financial savings of more than $4,000 a year. This is a significant saving on current bills of $5,334 per annum.
Dr Michael Holland MP – Member for Bega said “It was absolutely terrific to see SHASA secure funding through the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership Program. This project has made a substantial difference, replacing old gas cooking equipment with electric appliances, along with the installation of solar panels and battery storage to cut energy costs and reduce emissions.”
“The Dr Mackay Community Centre is a very important community space, used by many local groups and organisations, so these upgrades make it more sustainable AND more affordable to run.
It is particularly special to see investment in a facility named after Dr Hugh Mackay, whose dedication to Moruya left a lasting legacy — from caring for generations of local families to helping establish the town’s first ambulance service” said Dr Holland.
This investment will bring people together, strengthen local connections and provide a place where communities can thrive.”
The project will not only save money but will improve the health and well being of users of the kitchen by eliminating the use of gas. SHASA also replaced 2 very old fridges/freezers with new energy efficient models from Betta Batemans Bay.
SHASA looks forward to future partnership projects with Council to assist with meeting their Emissions Reduction Targets and realising savings in energy costs.