By Mikayla van Loon
Yarra Ranges Council’s directors responded to a number of community submissions at the 14 June council meeting.
With the opening of the new Civic Centre in Lilydale, a Mooroolbark resident submitted a question regarding the carbon offsetting the council undertook during the build and its cost.
Environment and infrastructure director Mark Varmalis said during the development of the centre, the council was mindful of the impact of carbon emissions.
“Aspects in the design included a 99 kilowatt solar panel system designed to enable a surplus of renewable energy supply in summer which will offset winter usage,” he said.
“The council has also recently received federal government funding support to install batteries within the building offsetting any night time use, enabling the facility to be active in an emergency.”
Mr Varmalis said the cost of installing the solar panel system was around $150,000 but would save the council a sum of $5000 each month in energy costs.
The position of the building also allows natural lighting to reduce the use of artificial lighting throughout the day where possible, water tanks were installed and 90 per cent of demolition materials were diverted from landfill.
Another question from Lilydale resident Raymond Shaw, asked the council to investigate the traffic obstruction of the Mount Evelyn Men’s Shed caused by the use of school parking.
Communities director Jane Price said the Cire Community School facility and the Men’s Shed share the same facility under a lease agreement on Hereford Road in Mount Evelyn.
“To ensure the safety of children using the area, 12 to 18 months ago Cire installed fixed signage at the back of the Men’s Shed to stop cars driving through from one side of the school to the other,” she said.
Bollards and a specific sign reading ‘Men’s Shed only’ were also placed to limit general access to the area while still allowing Shed users to park nearby.
A petition filed by residents of Coach Road in Lilydale, which obtained seven signatures, requested the council investigate the associated costs to seal the road.
Councillors passed the recommended motion to refer the petition to the appropriate department within the council to explore the options for road maintenance.
