Blue Mountains City Council has secured funding from the Federal Government’s Community Energy Upgrades Fund (CEUF) to improve energy efficiency at seven key Council-owned sites.
Coinciding with the 25-year anniversary of Council’s Sustainable Blue Mountains initiative, the grant is a significant step in the Council’s commitment to sustainability.
The $1.67 million grant will fund a variety of energy-saving upgrades, including the installation of heat pumps, battery storage, pool covers, and energy-efficient pumps across seven Council sites: Glenbrook Swimming Centre, Springwood Aquatic and Fitness Centre, Lawson Swimming Centre, Katoomba Sports and Aquatic Centre, Blackheath Swimming Centre, Katoomba Council Chambers, and Katoomba South Street Depot.
The upgrades will help stabilise the local electricity grid, making it more accommodating to solar energy and improving energy security.
“These projects will help Council save money and improve the energy resilience of our local infrastructure, building a more sustainable future for generations to come,” said Mayor, Mark Greenhill.
“The energy-saving measures will also create additional benefits for the local community, including increased solar integration, improved access to local services and eventually more available funds for essential services.”
Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman said, “This is about reducing energy use, lowering emissions, and therefore helping Blue Mountains City Council keep energy costs down in the long term.
“Swimming centres and Council premises throughout the Blue Mountains will benefit from practical improvements like the installation of new heat pumps, more efficient pool pumps and battery storage as well as the replacement of gas heating and upgraded air conditioning.
“This significant new investment will help modernise vital community infrastructure while also shrinking our carbon footprint,” she said.
