Mr HAMPTON - 2007-04-17
Alice Springs has been named as Australia’s next solar city. What is the Territory’s involvement in this exciting development?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his important question. What great news it is that Alice Springs is Australia’s next solar city! For a while, everyone involved in the bid for the solar city thought it was not going to happen. It has been a while since we thought it was. I believe the announcement was going to be last August. Therefore, when the announcement was made by the federal minister for the Environment, Malcolm Turnbull at Madigans yesterday, there was a great feeling of hope and celebration that it finally had happened. I would certainly like to thank the federal government, which will provide $12m towards the project over seven years. That will go together with the Territory government providing $5m over the seven years.
There are a lot of different elements to becoming a solar city. Part of it is a trial of 200 smart meters in homes and businesses; that is, using a time-of-use electricity tariff so you can reduce fuel consumption and maintenance costs. That is one that is being trialled all over Australia and it is great to have it in Alice Springs. They are also going to be looking at the installation of grid-connected photovoltaic systems so that, if it is on the roof of your house, you can actually put power back into the system. Of course, there will be a whole range of energy efficient services and products to help Alice Springs properly use solar and become really energy efficient.
Mrs Braham interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: These measures will see Alice Springs become one of the most environmentally friendly – I know the member for Braitling will be delighted to have an environmentally friendly town - and energy efficient towns.
It is a great victory, for everyone who has worked so hard to win the bid - and what a great team effort it was. I thank those who were involved in the Alice Springs Solar City Consortium: the Alice Springs Town Council, of course; the Power and Water Corporation; Chamber of Commerce; Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre; Tangentyere Council; the Arid Lands Environment Centre; and we got behind it too, the Territory government.
I am proud to say that our $145 000 into the bid has made a difference, and yesterday was, for Alice Springs, a real day to celebrate.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his important question. What great news it is that Alice Springs is Australia’s next solar city! For a while, everyone involved in the bid for the solar city thought it was not going to happen. It has been a while since we thought it was. I believe the announcement was going to be last August. Therefore, when the announcement was made by the federal minister for the Environment, Malcolm Turnbull at Madigans yesterday, there was a great feeling of hope and celebration that it finally had happened. I would certainly like to thank the federal government, which will provide $12m towards the project over seven years. That will go together with the Territory government providing $5m over the seven years.
There are a lot of different elements to becoming a solar city. Part of it is a trial of 200 smart meters in homes and businesses; that is, using a time-of-use electricity tariff so you can reduce fuel consumption and maintenance costs. That is one that is being trialled all over Australia and it is great to have it in Alice Springs. They are also going to be looking at the installation of grid-connected photovoltaic systems so that, if it is on the roof of your house, you can actually put power back into the system. Of course, there will be a whole range of energy efficient services and products to help Alice Springs properly use solar and become really energy efficient.
Mrs Braham interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: These measures will see Alice Springs become one of the most environmentally friendly – I know the member for Braitling will be delighted to have an environmentally friendly town - and energy efficient towns.
It is a great victory, for everyone who has worked so hard to win the bid - and what a great team effort it was. I thank those who were involved in the Alice Springs Solar City Consortium: the Alice Springs Town Council, of course; the Power and Water Corporation; Chamber of Commerce; Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre; Tangentyere Council; the Arid Lands Environment Centre; and we got behind it too, the Territory government.
I am proud to say that our $145 000 into the bid has made a difference, and yesterday was, for Alice Springs, a real day to celebrate.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016