Community energy park a step closer

A community-owned solar-energy park in Horsham is a step closer to becoming a reality with the appointment of a management board likely in the next couple of weeks.

Energy Democracy, a group working on a network of community-owned renewable-energy co-operatives across Australia and New Zealand, is overseeing the project.

The project includes establishing a six-hectare solar park featuring thousands of solar panels on vacant farmland on the southern side of Rasmussen Road on Horsham’s northern fringe.

Energy Democracy managing director Alan Major said a meeting to gauge community interest in the project had been positive.

“It was excellent. We had a relatively small but dedicated crowd turn up and as a result we have the basis for a board designate, which means enough volunteers have put up their hand to get the co-operative working,” he said.

Mr Major said Energy Democracy would now work with the community group on developing a business model while working on development-application and grid-connection processes.

“As far as we’re concerned it’s a goer. We would like to have development approval this year and construction start next year,” he said.

Mr Major said co-operatives involved a regulated process in establishing governance and board directors and Energy Democracy would help the Horsham group through the process.

“That’s our role in this. We will be working with the community behind the scenes and occasionally poking our head up,” he said.

“During August we will be catching up with the board designate and working on a timetable.

“This is a community-owned project so community engagement is important. We will be inviting other people in the Horsham region to consider benefits of this type of project.”

If the $7-million to $9-million Horsham project goes ahead it will be the first for Victoria and provide the foundation for a broader western Victorian co-operative.

The Horsham project has an initial sign-up target of about 300 members. Estimates are that a ceiling price for an average household buying in might be $7000.