Solar savers scheme for pensioners
Pensioners living in Mount Alexander Shire who own their own home can sign up to install a solar energy system that will save them money on their electricity bills. The program works by offering pensioners a special low-interest loan that has no upfront outlay and is gradually paid off over 10 years through power bill savings.
The Solar Savers program anticipates that every participating household will be at least $100 better off at the end of each year than they would be without the solar system.
For more information, contact Solar Savers on (03) 9385 8512 or log on to their website.
Solar Savers is being delivered by the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action on behalf of 20 Victorian councils and three other greenhouse alliances including the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance. The program has been funded with a $760,000 grant through the Victorian Government New Energy Jobs Fund.
TAKE2 climate pledge
Council has joined almost 200 councils, businesses and community organisations to take the Victorian Government’s voluntary TAKE2 pledge to take action on climate change.
The pledge commits Council to play our part to help achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions for the state of Victoria by 2050.
TAKE2 provides tailored, easy to understand information about what individuals and organisations can do to protect the planet for generations to come. Council encourages residents, businesses and organisations in the shire to take the pledge and become part of the movement to build a cleaner, greener future. For more information and to take the pledge, visit TAKE2
Council’s Roadside Weed Control Program (protecting our environment)
Council provides an on-going roadside weed control program. Council’s priorities are:
• To protect significant roadside vegetation under threat from weed invasion.
• To undertake follow up control of weeds at previously treated sites.
• To support on-going community groups projects.
• To control new and emerging weed species to the municipality, and to control new outbreaks of high threat weed species.
Lighting the Regions - Changing Street Lights
Lighting the Regions is the biggest street light partnership ever undertaken in Australia. The project involves changing 23,000 street lights to more energy efficient LED technology across the entire central, north central, west and north western region of Victoria. This will save $57 million in power and maintenance costs and reduce street lighting greenhouse gas emissions by 180,000 tonnes. Within Mount Alexander Shire 885 street lights will be changes to low energy technology by September 2015.
Solar on Council buildings (action on climate change / living sustainably)
Council owns many buildings that are either already fitted with solar systems, will be fitted soon, or are suitable for future installations. The installation of solar systems is a component of a holistic effort to reduce electricity costs, improve energy efficiency, and optimise the onsite use of any solar electricity produced.
Interested members of the community can monitor the amount of solar energy produced by Council online by zooming in on the map to Castlemaine at enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public_systems
Community Grants Scheme for Sustainability and Environment Projects
Each year Mount Alexander Shire Council allocates funding to support a range of local community-based projects and initiatives through the Strengthening Our Community Grants Scheme. There is a specific stream of funding in this program for projects that relate to sustainability and the natural environment.
Read more about our community grants.
Trust for Nature Rebate
Council values native vegetation on private land. To support landholders to protect and enhance remnant vegetation, Council offers rate relief for land permanently protected under covenant.