MOBILE phone technology has helped the City of Wanneroo save power and money at sports fields over the past two years.
A mid-year review of the 2018-19 annual budget tabled at Tuesday’s council meeting highlighted a decrease in utility charges of $210,000, including a $178,000 reduction in electricity costs.
One of the reasons for the reduction was the continued roll out of the short message system (SMS) floodlight control system at sports grounds.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWTraditionally the floodlights at sports fields were controlled with switches at set-times each week, and often lights would be on when no user groups were using the fields.
The system introduced in 2017 allows clubs to control the lights via SMS at pre-determined times, and only use the lights when required.
“It is incredible to think that this small change can be making such a big impact on our carbon footprint,” Mayor Tracey Roberts said.
“During the winter sports season at Wanneroo Showground alone, lights were only used for 319 hours as opposed to 1200 hours, which has saved the equivalent of 12,984kWh.”
South Ward sites using the technology include Hudson Park in Girrawheen, Shelvock Park in Koondoola, Warradale Park in Landsdale and Kingsway Sporting Complex in Madeley.
Central Ward sites include Wanneroo Showground, Houghton Park in Carramar, Grandis Park in Banksia Grove and Wanneroo’s Edgar Griffiths and Lake Joondalup parks.
North Ward sites include Kingsbridge Park in Butler, Ridgewood Park, Riverlinks Park in Clarkson, Gumblossom Park in Quinns Rocks, Yanchep’s Splendid and Oldham parks, Leatherback Park in Alkimos and Abbeville Park in Mindarie.
The technology is also being installed at Anthony Waring Reserve in Clarkson.
If the budget permits, the City plans to wire up several other locations in coming months, including Alexander Heights Park, Butterworth Park in Koondoola, Cabrini Park in Marangaroo, Highview Park in Alexander Heights, Peridot Park in Banksia Grove, Richard Aldersea Park in Clarkson and St Andrews Park in Yanchep.