Festival has loads of energy

Great Southern Star
Tuesday 27/3/2007 Page: 14

THE Wonthaggi Energy Innovation Festival and Human Powered Vehicle Grand Prix is becoming one of those must-see events. In only its second year, the festival has quickly grown. Coordinator John Flanders said the weekend crowd was much bigger than last year. "It was a huge turnout:' Mr Flanders said.

He said the energy efficient house and Wonthaggi windfarm tours had been particular favourites. Among other innovative inventions were a bio-diesel car (which can run on vegetable oil), a wood-powered car and an electric car. Mr Flanders said the festival, like the environmental movement itself, can 'only grow'. The environment matters in people's lives. Business will follow. People want to do more and more. It was a really positive response;' Mr Flanders said.

The festival is seen to be part of a broader movement, where the environment has ceased to be merely a fringe issue. The Melbourne Sustainable Living Festival, which has similar themes, has continued to grow.

Also at the event were representatives from South Gippsland Water, who had water conservation displays and gave out free shower heads; environmental groups who were petitioning against genetically-modified crops; universities offering courses in environmental management; as well as a host of other groups interested in helping the Earth survive well into the next millennium.

Outside, in the streets near the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, 87 teams, most of them from schools, competed in the Human Powered Vehicle Grand Prix, in which there were thrills and spills aplenty.

Wonthaggi Secondary College maths teacher Glenn Sullivan said that aside from helping build the pedal-powered vehicle the school's team had used in the grand prix, working on the project had helped students with "team-building" skills. The school's vehicle was a sleek design, and it sped around the track in the 24 hour challenge.

The students were clearly excited by their invention and the engineering feat it represented. Some raced, while others preferred to help out in the pit stop. Former students, like Paul Forrest, had come back because it was 'fun' to help weld and design the cars.

Other competitors and designers, like Ben Goodall, manager of Tri Sled Human Powered Vehicles, had a sleeker design and better resourced vehicle. Some of the company's vehicles retail for $7000. Though, there is little doubt, Mr Goodall had much the same intention as the team from Wonthaggi Secondary College: to tear up the track and have fun.