Wanneroo Aquamotion is due to close for three months so pools can be re-tiled.
Camera IconWanneroo Aquamotion is due to close for three months so pools can be re-tiled. Credit: Supplied/Martin Kennealey

City of Wanneroo to monitor energy use at three facilities

Laura PondWanneroo Times

ENERGY use at three City of Wanneroo facilities will be monitored as part of its energy reduction plan.

The plan was endorsed by councillors at the May 30 meeting and will start with an energy monitoring and implementation program at Wanneroo Aquamotion, Kingsway Indoor Stadium and Girrawheen Library in the first year.

An energy audit was conducted by Climate Change Response Group last April, which reported on the usage of City-owned and operated assets and found its energy efficiency performance was “moderate”.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The key finding was that the City did not have a system in place to record power consumption, manage reduction initiatives or improve efficiency.

In the 2014-15 financial year, it spent more than $8.7 million on energy, with more than $5 million paid to Western Power for streetlights.

That accounts for 72 per cent of the City’s total electricity costs and the plan said it highlighted “the importance of renegotiating supply arrangements with Western Power as a key strategy in the City’s overall approach to energy reduction”.

Excluding streetlights, 45 per cent of the remaining electricity costs were consumed by Kingsway Regional Sporting Complex, Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre, Wanneroo Civic Centre office building and Aquamotion.

The three-year monitoring and implementation is based on a recommendation of the strategy completed in January.

Data will be collected from the three facilities in the first year and the next year energy reduction strategies will be implemented, with additional facilities included for monitoring in years two and three.

“Without embedding a strong approach to energy monitoring the City cannot set baseline energy use patterns, develop knowledge of where energy is being used excessively, or identify options on how to best minimise this,” the City’s report said.

“A major advantage of this stepped approach is the ability of the City to adopt new technologies as they arise or become more affordable.

“The adoption of this approach would allow the City to understand its energy consumption and respond to individual site requirements as well as capitalise on new and emerging technologies within the energy sector.”

Other elements of the plan include promoting behaviour changes, engaging contractors or suppliers to the City to engage in energy reduction practices and considering energy efficiency regarding the City’s fleet assets.

Several councillors voiced their support for the plan at the meeting, with Cr Dianne Guise saying the City was in a position to engage with emerging technology but to do that first needed to understand its current energy consumption.

“It will enable us to plan better in the future…and long term create new jobs,” she said.

The City has listed $66,000 in the 2017-18 budget to implement the first year of the plan, which includes installing sub-meters and energy monitoring at the three facilities.

MORE: Pharmacy giant Sigma Healthcare to build $60m centre in Perth

MORE: Ellenbrook parents join drive to raise funds for Lifeline WA after loss of own son

MORE: tattoos help hide scars of self-harm