Focus on the environment

The Moyne Gazette, Page: 3
Thursday, 10 August 2006

PORT Fairy Consolidated School is hoping to develop solar and wind energy facilities planned for a new building into a community education resource. Principal Michael Keyburn said the school hoped to create a visual display board that would show how much energy was generated by solar panels and a small wind power generator that were planned for the new building.

The display board will be part of a move to give other schools and community groups an opportunity to see how solar and wind energy was produced. Mr Keyburn said the State Government had approved to fund part of the cost of the construction of a wind power generator and the school was seeking sponsorship from wind power companies with interests in the Moyne Shire to meet the remainder.

He said Moyne Shire Council was helping the school determine the amount of funding needed to develop the renewable energy sources to be installed at the school into a community education resource. The use of renewable energy is part of an environmental theme for a new bank of 10 classrooms to be built at the school. Expressions of interest from builders wanting to be involved in the classroom project closed yesterday. Tenders will soon be invited from a shortlist of applicants and construction is expected to get underway in November.