By Wendy Williamson
Healesville Community Renewable Energy Project (CoRE) is forging ahead with its focus on equitably delivering renewable energy projects to the community.
Achieving incorporation to make it easier to apply for grants is the next step for the group, which got off to a great start with a very well attended community gathering at The Memo in Healesville on 29 June.
“The attendance of 225-250 community members, with standing room only for latecomers, really says a lot about the interest in renewable energy in our town,” said Jeff Barlow, who called the meeting and is Healesville CoRE’s interim chair.
Thirty-six people have now formed a working group which meets fortnightly, with a similar number of volunteers in a broader Community Volunteers Group and a dozen or so professionals contributing their expertise in an Expert Reference Group.
On Sunday 17 September Healesville CoRE enthusiastically supported the Alternative Technology Association’s Sustainable House Day. Four local sustainable houses were on display as part of this national event.
They included an underground house in Steels Creek, two off-grid straw bale homes at Moora Moora Co-op on Mt Toolebewong, and a prototype off-grid tiny house from iCue Homes on display in the industrial estate in Healesville.
There was great interest in seeing how passive heating and cooling was incorporated into the design of the houses and their application of renewable energy systems. Several visitors were inspired to sign up to Healesville CoRE.
Small scale renewable projects – on houses, churches, schools – will be the initial focus of Healesville CoRE. The group envisages assisting through the provision of expertise and perhaps bulk buys of solar panels.
“We want as many people as possible to benefit,” said Jeff Barlow. “(It will be) a win for the individuals, a win for the community, a win for Australia and a win for the planet.”
Looking to the longer term, Healesville CoRE has commenced talks with Enova Community Energy to explore ways in which a community based power retailer could be established. The hope, says Jeff, is to give the community some control over its energy production and consumption and retain money in the community rather than send it to overseas shareholders.
Healesville CoRE is looking forward to hosting a visit on 2 November from energy efficiency expert Alan Pears. He will talk about conserving energy in the home and how to reduce energy consumption and bills. More information will be available closer to the date.
For further information about Healesville CoRE email contact@healesvillecore.org.au. New members are always welcome.
