How creek water is powering part of the Yarra Valley
IT STARTED as an idea between two mates a decade ago. Now a green energy system that will save about 7000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year has been switched on in Warburton.
Outer East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Outer East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
CREEK water is now powering the equivalent of 150 Upper Yarra homes with Warburton’s Hydro Power Plant going live.
The renewable energy system — almost 10 years in the making — is underneath the Warburton Golf Club and converts water from the nearby Ythan Creek into electricity.
MORE LEADER NEWS
RED-BELLIED BLACK SNAKE PLAYS PEEKABOO WITH NEIGHBOURS
MAN’S HARROWING BATTLE WITH FLESH-EATING ULCER
COUNCILS SHUT DOWN DOZENS OF ILLEGAL BROTHELS
The $1.2 million project, which grew from an idea by mates Luke Whiteside and Nick Killey, will channel some of the creek’s water underneath the ground into a generator-powered turbine and turned into energy.
An estimated 100kW of power will be produced and fed into the grid which could power the equivalent of 150 homes.
The project is estimated to save about 700 tonnes of carbon — equivalent to more than 440 cars on the road — from entering the environment each year.
Power generated by the hydro-electric system is sold by retailer Powershop, with profits going back into the community through an investment program run by Upper Yarra Community Enterprise — a non-profit group that operates Warburton and Yarra Junction Bendigo Bank branches.
The Upper Yarra Community Enterprise is the owner and operator of the plant and will return the majority of profits from the system to the community.
The State Government has pumped $450,000 into the project.
Yarra Ranges Cr Jim Child said the council was supportive of the project, which doesn’t rely on wind or sun.
“There is enough power for 150 houses, which is a fantastic outcome,” Cr Child said.
“This sets an example for other communities to see how it can be done.”
Warburton and Yarra Junction Community Bank branches chairman Rodney McKail said the organisation was incredibly proud to support the “empowering” and “environmentally-conscious” community project.
MORE EASTERN NEWS
WHERE YOU CAN GET AWARD-WINNING FREE PIZZA
’You stole joy’: Family of slain couple slams killer driver
One man deciding to “have an adventure” left a family with “so much heartache and pain” when he sped through a Caulfield South red light and collided with a couple’s car at almost 220km/h.
Police investigate overnight ram raid in Pakenham
A commercial building in Pakenham was ram raided overnight with the offender stealing a power tool and knocking down a security fence.