Our Projects

Murray Rose Pool

In September 2011, Woollahra Council installed 50 solar panels on the roof of the Murray Rose Pool change rooms in Double Bay.

The average Australian household generates approximately 14 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year. In comparison, the 10KW Redleaf solar system saves approximately 18 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

Cooper Park Community Hall and Hugh Latimer Centre

In February 2016, both the Cooper Park Community Hall in Bellevue Hill, and the Hugh Latimer Centre in Double Bay were fitted out with 4.7 kW (18 panel) solar photo voltaic systems.

These installations are estimated to save Council $3,000 per year in energy costs, as well as reducing our energy footprint.

Cooper Park Community Hall installation

Fletcher Street Depot

In April 2016, a 25 KW (96 panel) solar photo voltaic system was installed at Council's Civil Works Depot on Fletcher Street in Woollahra. This installation is estimated to provide an annual saving to Council of almost $10,000 and will drastically improve the energy impact of the building.

Fletcher Street Depot installation

Quarry Street Depot

In August 2016, a 9.9KW (38 panel) solar photo voltaic system was installed at Council's Open Space Depot on Quarry Street in Paddington. This installation is estimated to generate over 14,000 kilowatt hours of energy per year and will save Council almost $3,000 annually.

Quarry Street Depot installation

In December 2013, Council secured over $50,000 worth of funding through the Federal Governments’ Local Government Energy Efficiency Program. The money went towards installing five, gas-boosted solar hot water units to service showers and taps at Colleagues Rugby Club change rooms, Trumper Park change rooms, the Hugh Latimer Centre, and at both the Quarry Street and Fletcher Street depots.

These units use the ample, free, sunlight we enjoy here in the eastern suburbs to heat water for public use, replacing the more costly and resource-intensive electric systems. Installing a gas-boosted solar hot water system can more than halve the electricity use for water heating - saving power and money.

Council has signed a Power Purchase Agreement to source 100% of Council’s electricity from three NSW solar farms from July 2022. This is a partnership program with the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils.

In 2013 Woollahra Council received $350,000 in grant funding from the Department of Industry's Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP) to upgrade the lighting, and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to improve the energy efficiency and amenity of the Redleaf building.

In its first year these works reduced energy use of the Council Chambers building by 19%, reduced emissions by 34% and operating costs by over $25,000.

The upgrade included:

• An upgrade of the air conditioning system including the installation a natural gas-powered, reverse-cycle heat recovery chiller (the first in Australia!)
• Installation of a gas-boosted solar hot water system;
• An upgrade of the Building Management System (which controls how efficiently the air conditioning and ventilation system works;
• Installation of a sub-metering system which allows us to see how much electricity and gas each part of the building is using at any time;
• Establishment of a data management platform to allow Council to closely monitor real-time data and present this on easy to read dashboards;
• A lighting upgrade throughout the building (replacing the light fittings with more efficient LEDs, compact fluorescents and T5 fluorescent tubes)

In November 2018, Council upgraded eleven of our park amenities buildings to LED lighting. Additionally, movement and daylight sensors were installed to ensure lights are only in use when needed.

These works are estimated to reduce costs and energy use across the sites by 57% each year.

Cross Street car park provides 396 car spaces over four levels for local shoppers, diners and visitors.

In October 2014, over 580 new LED lights and 27 motion detectors were installed throughout the car park. These installations have not only helped to reduce Council’s power bills and energy use, but also Council’s carbon impact.

The Quarry Street depot provides office space and facilities for Council’s Open Space and Trees outdoors staff.

In December 2014, over 80 lights were replaced with energy efficient LED tube fittings that decrease energy use by up to 50%. Motion sensors and timers were also installed in areas that are used intermittently.

Woollahra Council is one of 35 councils within the Ausgrid distribution area that have joined together under the Street Lighting Improvement Program (SLIP) designed to improve street lighting throughout the region. The combined local government areas of the 35 councils represent 95% of all the lights in Ausgrid’s distribution area and more than 40% of all lights in NSW.

The primary objectives of the program are to secure street lighting technology, service and pricing improvements through negotiations with government, Ausgrid, regulators, technology suppliers and other key parties.

To June 2015, the following energy efficient lights have been installed in the Woollahra Council area:

• 803 compact fluorescent lights on residential roads
• 288 LED lights on residential roads
• 32 high pressure sodium lights with sophisticated electronic control gear on main roads

In 2017, Woollahra Council became a partner to the Cities Power Partnership, an initiative of The Climate Council.

We are committed to pursuing five goals through this partnership:

1. Developing a tool to help residents understand the procedure for installing solar power in Woollahra;
2. Rolling out of Solar My School across the eastern suburbs;
3. Undetaking a renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA)
4. Replacing public lighting with energy efficient options; and
5. Installing LED lighting in all public amenities blocks.

You can see our community page here.