General News
27 March, 2026
Solar for Atherton’s disaster centre
LEFTOVER money from a project funded under a Federal reef action initiative will be spent installing a solar array and battery storage at Atherton’s Disaster Coordination Centre (DCC).
The Soil Conservation and Drainage Improvement project was allocated $243,000 to deliver the Cescotto Close drainage upgrade and complete a detailed design for the Lindgren Close drain upgrade.
But while construction of the Cescotto Close upgrade had been completed, the Lindgren Close upgrade could not have been funded with the remaining $90,845.
Tablelands Regional Council has now been given approval to use the funds to install solar at the DCC which had been identified as one of the council’s largest energy users which was suitable for the installation of solar.
The funds will pay for the installation of a 60kW solar panel array and a 44kW battery.
“This will ensure full utilisation of grant funding, reduce TRC energy costs, greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental sustainability,” a report to council stated.
