Burnie High School will become a leading example of how taking direct action can help cut carbon emissions with the aid of funding committed by a future Coalition government.
Braddon Liberal candidate Garry Carpenter and Tasmanian Liberal Senator Stephen Parry were joined at the school today by Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action Senator Simon Birmingham to announce the commitment.
On a visit to the school today, they announced the Coalition will, if elected, provide $400,000 to Burnie High School for its Eco Learning Plaza.
“Burnie High’s Eco Learning Plaza will educate not only students but also the wider local community on how direct action through cutting-edge technology can cut carbon emissions,” Mr Carpenter said.
“The funding will be allocated through the $100 million Solar Towns and Solar Schools initiative that the Coalition has pledged to create under its Direct Action Plan for the Environment and Climate Change.”
Senator Stephen Parry, who has been working with the school for some time on the proposal, welcomed the funding commitment.
“I am delighted that we have secured the first of the Coalition’s solar school initiatives for Burnie and the seat of Braddon,” Senator Parry said.
“The proposal was born out of the fire late last year that caused extensive damage to two of the schools’ major buildings, requiring their demolition.
“The school community saw the redevelopment of Burnie High as an opportunity to incorporate and showcase environmental technologies.
The Eco Learning Plaza will incorporate:
· solar panels,
· solar water heating,
· water collection tanks and reticulation,
· wind power generation, and
· monitoring systems.
Senator Parry said this will, according to the school’s consultants, see a cut of up to 37,388kgs of CO2 emissions of a year.
Senator Birmingham said the project was an excellent example of how governments can work with the local community to deliver real action on climate change.
“This is an exciting initiative that will see the Burnie High School serve as a positive example of the action that can be taken against climate change.
“Unlike Labor’s plan for a carbon tax on everything, this type of climate action will not result in higher electricity prices or cost local jobs.”