Solar for Strata forum

Roslyn Simmonds and Ian Wright outside Tewantin Plaza. Supplied.

Strata owners, tenants, body corporate committees and professional body corporate managers are invited to the upcoming free Solar for Strata forum scheduled for 15 November at The J Theatre, Noosa Junction.

The event is being presented by Zero Emissions Noosa (ZEN) and goes from 8am to 10.30am.

“Electricity prices have already risen dramatically, and are predicted to go higher,” said ZEN spokesperson Vivien Griffin. “We know that rooftop solar can help bring costs down, but it is more challenging for strata properties to go down this path. ZEN set itself the goal of working with this sector to assist in body corporate committee decision-making to overcome the technical, legal and financial issues they have to consider.

“We are grateful to Noosa Council, which provided grant funding to enable ZEN to commission Ian Wright from the Solar Revenue Company to work with eight different strata properties to develop practical and unbiased solar feasibility studies for their different circumstances.

“The properties included residential, resort and commercial. Ian brings his practical experience and knowledge from the journey that Noosa Lakes Resort took to install the largest solar array in Noosa, now, with 12 months’ operation over a stormy period in electricity prices, demonstrating it was worth the effort.

“ZEN’s goal is to use the information gathered to date to develop a roadmap for solar that any body corporate committee or body corporate manager can use.

“At the forum, Ian will be reporting on his findings, outlining next steps and chairing a panel answering questions from the audience. This is a great opportunity to put your burning questions to the panel.”

Said Ian: “My work with the eight body corporate committees over the last six months has really demonstrated the complex issues that they must consider when thinking about rooftop solar. My feasibility report for each property canvasses their specific issues.

“However, the potential financial payback definitely makes the effort worthwhile.”

Roslyn Simmonds, chair of the Tewantin Plaza body corporate committee, one of the eight properties that Ian worked with, said: “Tewantin Plaza is a commercial strata property, with its own unique challenges. It has been enormously helpful to work through the issues with Ian, to guide our body corporate committee decision making.”

To register for this free interactive event, go to zeroemissionsnoosa.com.au/events For more information about the event, phone 0407 116 105 or email zeroemissionsnoosa@gmail.com