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Elly’s trip to COP27 Egypt

One of our members, Elly Hanrahan, was awarded a National Scholarship for her proposal for a Landscape Rehydration Strategy, which saw her head off to Egypt to take part in the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in November last year. What an amazing and exciting experience! Elly says the highlight was the opportunity to have an hour one on one time with the Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, who was really interested in the youth perspective on climate change issues. Below Elly sums up her experience in her own words.

Elly writes: Traveling to Egypt made me appreciate Healesville so much – we are so lucky to live in such an incredible landscape and to be surrounded by people and organisations wanting to make a difference – it’s something I’m trying not to take for granted.

While walking through the conference centre and attending events, I came to the realisation that the real solutions to climate action aren’t formulated in sky rise offices – they’re being formulated and carried out on the ground by communities determined to combat government and policy inaction. All over the world, communities lead this movement. It’s exhilarating!

Communities such as Healesville are already experiencing and will continue to experience weather events exacerbated by climate change. We face large disruptions to our everyday lives by events such as storms, flooding and bushfires. Healesville CoRE offers some amazing opportunities for local residents to join together to combat and mitigate the effects of worsening climate change. For example, the Home Efficiency Energy Advisors will visit your home and consider ways you may be able to be more comfortable in your home, reduce your energy costs and reduce your carbon emissions, and the solar, heat pump and reverse cycle air conditioning community opportunities offer a way to minimise our own individual contributions to the problem.

I’m so grateful for this opportunity and so excited to see more community-focussed policies implemented including, hopefully, my proposal for a landscape rehydration scheme.

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St Brigid’s goes Solar!

As the staff and children at St Brigid’s Primary School head back to school from their summer break they will be happy to know their electricity bills are on the way down, thanks to a new solar system recently installed by Healesville CoRE. St Brigid’s is the third building in Healesville to use our Revolving Fund for an interest free loan which will be repaid over the next few years using funds from the school’s reduced power bills.

A solar electricity system installed at St Brigid’s Primary School in Healesville is now online. The system was installed by Healesville CoRE using part of a $90,000 grant provided by the Federal Government in 2020. Yarra Ranges Council provided invaluable support in terms of financial and project management services. The system consists of 71 panels rated to produce a total of 32.6 kW of power. 

Provision of the system finance has been structured as a loan to St Brigid’s. The school will repay the loan over a number of years funded by the school’s reduced power bills. Once the loan has been repaid the school will have the full benefit of the system and Healesville CoRE will be able to reuse the repaid loan funds to fund a new system on another community building. 

This is the third community building where Healesville CoRE has installed solar systems under this model, the other two being the Robyn Jane Children’s Centre and the Healesville Living & Learning Centre. Both of those systems have previously gone online.

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Download our Annual Report for the 2021 – 2022 financial year!

IMPORTANT VIEWING NOTE:

Our 2021-2022 Annual Report is designed to be read in your PDF reader using “Two page view” and we recommend you change your settings to enable this.

Please follow this easy process when viewing our 2022 Annual Report on your computer:

1 – Click on the link below. It will likely open in a new tab or page in your browser and show you a preview.

2 – Select download icon, and save the file to your computer. Once file is downloaded, open it by double clicking on the file.

3 – The Annual Report should open using a PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is free software you likely already have installed. If you do not have this, download Adobe Reader for free HERE, and continue these steps.

3 – Once the Annual Report 2022 has opened in your PDF reader (such as Adobe Acrobat), click on ‘View’ in the menu bar at the top, then click ‘Page Display’ from the drop down menu and ensure ‘2 Page View’ is selected. If you have a Mac, click on ‘View’, and select ‘2 pages’ from the menu that drops down if using the Preview software. See below for visual instructions.

Download our Annual Report for 2021 – 2022 financial year in PDF format HERE.

Here is a visual guide on how to change your PDF Reader software for 2 page viewing in Adobe Acrobat:

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Regenerating Australia Film Screening

Come along on Thursday, 2nd June, 6pm -7pm at the Healesville Library  to see the screening of Regenerating Australia a short hybrid documentary by award-winning filmmaker Damon Gameau who is best know for his documentary ‘That Sugar Film’ and ‘2040’ with a Q&A forum afterwards, moderated by Damon Gameau.

The Q&A will have a panel featuring Healesville CoRE, Eco Warriors Australia and Yarra Ranges Council Active Energy Precint.

It is a unique format and will be an engaging night, not to be missed!

Book your tickets now!

events.yourlibrary.com.au

 

Screening Details

Healesville Library

 

Date:      Thursday, 2nd June 2022

Time:       5:45pm arrival for 6:00pm start

Venue:    Healesville Library

Address:   110 River Street, Healesville  VIC 3777

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Newsletter February 2022

Check out our latest newsletter, Feb 2022!

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YARRA RANGES COUNCIL – AUSTRALIA DAY CIVIC AWARD RECIPIENT – HEALESVILLE CORE.

In some fantastic news to start the year, Healesville Community Renewable Energy Inc is the recipient of the Yarra Ranges Council, Environmental Achiever of the Year Australia Day Awards!

Yarra Ranges Council is very proud of the dedication and achievements of our residents who volunteer their own time and knowledge to make our local communities are great place to live.  Council’s annual Australia Day Civic Award ceremony provides a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the presentation of the awards to recipients, with their family and friends.

The award was presented on January 26th at Mt Evelyn Athletics Pavilion and lived streamed via Yarra Ranges Life TV. To view the Award Ceremony, click https://www.facebook.com/events/1000442697212662

Photography by Leo De Jong

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Download our Annual Report for the 2020 – 2021 financial year!

IMPORTANT VIEWING NOTE:

Our 2020-2021 Annual Report is designed to be read in your PDF reader using “Two page view” and we recommend you change your settings to enable this.

Please follow this easy process when viewing our 2020 Annual Report on your computer:

1 – Click on the link below. It will likely open in a new tab or page in your browser and show you a preview.

2 – Select download icon, and save the file to your computer. Once file is downloaded, open it by double clicking on the file.

3 – The Annual Report should open using a PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is free software you likely already have installed. If you do not have this, download Adobe Reader for free HERE, and continue these steps.

3 – Once the Annual Report 2020 has opened in your PDF reader (such as Adobe Acrobat), click on ‘View’ in the menu bar at the top, then click ‘Page Display’ from the drop down menu and ensure ‘2 Page View’ is selected. If you have a Mac, click on ‘View’, and select ‘2 pages’ from the menu that drops down if using the Preview software. See below for visual instructions.

Download our Annual Report for 2020 – 2021 financial year in PDF format HERE.

 

Here is a visual guide on how to change your PDF Reader software for 2 page viewing in Adobe Acrobat:

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Hub to ‘power up’ with official launch

20 August 2021

The Yarra Valley Community Power Hub will flick the switch on a new era for renewable energy in the Greater Yarra Valley and Ranges, with its official launch on 28 August marking a major milestone for the program.

Formed after receiving $428,500 in funds from the Victorian Government, the Power Hub brings together seven local community energy groups which are committed to driving renewable energy projects in their communities. Their goal is to reduce the region’s carbon footprint, while promoting a movement away from centralised energy and towards locally sourced, sustainable energy.

If successful, the outcome will be a more self-reliant, empowered region that is less exposed to the impacts of climate change.

Mayor of Yarra Ranges, Councillor Fiona McAllister, will lead proceedings, which will take place online from 9.30am to 11.30am. Interested community members are encouraged to join in. To register, visit (https://bit.ly/3z08i0h).

 

Power Hubs network ready to launch Victoria-wide

The Yarra Valley Community Power Hub will be one of seven to launch throughout the State, thanks to Victorian Government funding of $3.73 million through Sustainability Victoria. The not-for-profit Hubs have been entrusted to work within their regions to deliver community-based renewable energy projects.

There will be five regionally based and two metropolitan Melbourne-based Hubs. These include the regions of Hume, Grampians, Loddon Mallee, Barwon South West and Gippsland. The Yarra Valley Community Power Hub will be the first to launch officially.

 

Yarra Valley Hub taking shape

Healesville Community Renewable Energy (Healesville CoRE) has been central to the formation of the Yarra Valley Hub, which also includes Yarra Glenergy, Clean Energy Nillumbik, Yarra Valley ECOSS, Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association, Bunyip Renewable Action Group, and Eastern Climate Action Melbourne.

President of Healesville CoRE, Jeff Barlow, has taken on the role of Executive Officer of the Yarra Valley Community Power Hub. He will also be a guest speaker at the launch, together with industry partner, Komo Energy.

Four staff members have been employed for the Hub, who will support community energy groups in their work, such as bulk-buying solar panels and running information events. 

 

Quotes attributable to Executive Officer of the Yarra Valley Community Power Hub, Jeff Barlow

“We are at the beginning of an energy revolution in Australia. We are moving away from centralised delivery of fossil fuel-derived electricity and moving towards more sustainable, locally produced, locally stored and locally distributed energy,” Mr Barlow said.

“This will create a feeling of empowerment for the community, which can reduce its carbon footprint, its energy costs, while creating new jobs and keeping more money within the community.

“The official launch is an exciting time for everyone who has worked so hard on the Hub’s formation. Through their dedication, and with the support of the Yarra Valley communities, we can assist local groups and volunteers to deliver exciting energy projects well into the future.”

 

Media enquiries to Jeff Barlow on (03) 7065 4136 or 0411 562 315 or executive.officer@yvcommunitypowerhub.org.au

 

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You are all invited to attend our 2021 Annual General Meeting

The Central Committee of Healesville CoRE is pleased to advise our financial members and the general public that the 2021 Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 2 September from 7:30 pm via an oline Zoom meeting due to Covid 19 restrictions


Online registration required

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Local Power Plan & the Healesville Micro Grid

On Sat 19th of June, we held an online event featuring Dr Helen Haines, Independent Federal MP for Indi, who discussed her Local Power Plan. Gerald Arends & Jonathan Prendergast, Directors of Komo Energy, also detailed the possibility of a Healesville Microgrid. The event was opened by Cr Fiona McAllister, Mayor of Yarra Ranges Council and Councillor for Ryrie Ward. This 3 part video series is a recording of the whole event. More event details can be found here:

 

Part 1 features:
Intro by Jeff Barlow (President of H’CoRE),
Opening Address by Fiona McAllister (Mayor of Yarra Ranges and Councillor for Ryrie Ward)
Discussion of Local Power Plan by Dr Helen Haines, Fed. MP for Indi

 

Part 2 features:
Gerald Arends & Jonathan Prendergast – Directors of Komo Energy discussing the Healesville Microgrid

 

Part 3 features the Q&A session

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