Solar panels to go on libraries, sports centres in Logan ready for electric cars

A southeast Queensland council is gearing up for electric cars by spending $408,000 on solar panels. And ratepayers can’t complain, because in eight years the plan will have paid for itself.

Logan council’s Round Mountain Reservoir already has solar panels.

LOGAN City Council is powering ahead with plans to fit solar panels on five more civic buildings, including libraries and sporting complexes.

Ratepayers will fork out $408,000 for the panels, which the council estimated would break even by 2027.

Council calculations showed putting solar panels on Logan West Community Centre, Mt Warren Sports Centre, Logan North Aquatic Centre, Logan West and Marsden libraries, would save a whopping $55,000 a year in electricity bills.

Logan Recycling Market already has solar panels.

The spending, announced in last week’s budget, is part of an $8.5 million council commitment to environmental projects including the Albert and Logan River Vision Project.

Over the past decade, 38,000 solar photovoltaic systems have been installed across the city, representing 157 megawatts of capacity.

Council said part of the solar strategy included building charging stations for electric vehicles.

“We don’t want to be charging an environmentally-sustainable vehicle with coal-fired electricity and solar is more affordable,” a senior council officer said.

No time line was given apart from what is set out in council’s Way2Go transport strategy but the officer said council would build the first charging stations at council facilities.

Council has already installed 29 solar power systems on five of its buildings to cut electricity bills and move closer to its 2022 carbon neutral goal.

COUNCIL SOLAR BUILDINGS

■ Browns Plains Recycling Centre (30 kW)

■ Animal Management Centre at Slacks Creek (30 kW)

■ Round Mountain Reservoir (87 kW)

■ Tudor Park Community Recreation Centre system (22kW)

■ The Round Mountain Reservoir installation, an off-grid system, also features a Tesla Powerpack.

Tudor Park Community Recreattion Centre already has solar panels.

In the city, council said about 38.5 per cent of dwellings have solar systems, up on the state average of 34.1 per cent.

Housing Minister Mick de Brenni, who is also Springwood MP, is also pushing for solar panels to be installed on state housing in parts of Logan with a trial expected to start in the Woodridge area this month.

It is expected tenants at the Woodridge Housing Service Centre will be eligible to enter a solar power purchase agreement to access cheaper electricity.