Moreton Bay Regional Council says its mantra of ‘going green as we grow’ is being powered into overdrive in the 2022-23 Budget, with the purchase of two new solar-powered ride-on mowers to help maintain local parks.
Mayor, Peter Flannery said the mowers would help Council manage and maintain the 100 million sqm of parks, gardens, trails, fire breaks and nature reserves across Moreton Bay.
“Council isn’t just ‘going green as we grow’, we’re also ‘going green as we mow’!” he said.
“We’ve tested two electric mowers that are now ready to be taken be deployed in local parks.”
The mowers have seven hours of battery life, no emissions and less than half the noise of regular mowers, he says.
“We are also using solar roof panels for their overnight battery charging and that makes the mowers even more environmentally friendly.”
“Two mowers might not sound like a big deal, but when you think about the 100 million sqm of parks and gardens in Moreton Bay we have to maintain, every effort counts.
He said the mowers were part of Moreton Bay’s commitment to going green and his vision of becoming one of the most environmentally friendly councils in Australia.
“In addition to the new mowers, we’re also investing in new electric pruning saws, an eBike for inspecting footpaths and a Hyundai Ioniq that’s quickly becoming one of the most popular cars in the Council fleet,” the Mayor said.
“I’m sure that residents will appreciate not only the peace and quiet that comes with these investments – but also the emission reductions that flow from the technology.
“We have an ambitious program to convert methane gas to energy at our waste facilities, with plans to add a massive Tesla battery to store the green energy.
“Ultimately, it’s all part of a program that involves environmental infrastructure, koala conservation and improved liveability right across the Moreton Bay region.”