Sustainability funding for Bay and Basin Leisure Centre

Shoalhaven City Council's Bay and Basin Leisure Centre has been successful in securing funding of $70,000 to upgrade its energy efficient processes.

The funding stems from the Waste Service Performance Improvement Payment program that assists councils in improvinge waste and sustainability outcomes within their local government areas.

Like many Councils, Shoalhaven Council's leisure centres heat millions of litres of water for 24 hours a day and run air conditioning units for 14 hours each day, so improvements to the way leisure centres use energy is a continual and vital process.

Reducing expensive energy use is part of Shoalhaven Council's overall vision of reducing its carbon foot print and energy consumption in order to protect our natural resources and to show leadership in ecologically sustainable development and living.

Over the past five years, Shoalhaven Council's aquatic facilities have been working on their environmental strategy in offsetting the demand for heated water gas and electricity and water.

Stage one of the process saw the installation of solar heating such as evacuated cells, which heats water for pool water and heating for the showers.

Stage two was the implementation for rainwater harvesting to use as a top up for councils pool water. This offsets the huge amount of council water usage, as one backwash of the filtration system uses in excess of 20 thousand litres of water. The rainwater harvesting tank at the Bay and Basin Leisure Centre holds 160 thousand litres.

Stage 3 is site power generation with photovoltaic solar cells. The current system recently installed at Bay and Basin Leisure Centre is 14.1 kilowatt system, which will further reduce energy need for Bay and Basin Leisure Centre

In the upcoming years Council will be building on this system to double it capabilities in attempt to further reduce council's carbon footprint. These energy efficient and sustainable practices are planned to be implemented at all of council's year round facilities over the next few years implementing similar systems at Ulladulla Leisure Centre and Sussex Inlet Aquatic Centre.

For further information on contact Shoalhaven City Council Aquatics Manager Kevin Norwood on 02 4429 3538 or go to www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au

1st December 2010 - ONE PASS FOR SHOALHAVEN POOLS 

14th October 2010 - NEW ULLADULLA RECREATION CENTRE OPENS

2nd June 2010 - SHOALHAVEN COUNCIL TO CHARGE FOR OCEAN POOL ADMISSIONS

1st February 2010 - LIFEGUARDS WRAP UP SUMMER HOLIDAY SEASON