Moreland Solar City

In June 2008, The Hon. Peter Garrett, Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts announced funding for the Moreland Solar City Project at the Coburg Civic Centre, Coburg.

The Moreland Solar City is based in the City of Moreland, inner northern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. The project will receive up to $4.9 million in funding under the Australian Government's $94 million Solar Cities initiative.

"This is a terrific announcement for Moreland, the Solar City project, the sixth in Australia will help us create a sustainable vision for our community and a practical example for Australia," says Moreland Energy Foundation Chair Mike Hill.

The project, which began in late 2008, aims to engage with all levels of the Moreland community to bring about community-based sustainable energy solutions, with a specific focus on assisting low income households to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.

Key components of the project include:

Zero Carbon Moreland

A community engagement strategy to inspire and facilitate community wide response to climate change.

Coburg Initiative

An exciting inner urban project that will see the major portion of central Coburg redeveloped to deliver outstanding new amenities.

Energy Hub

Delivering 1,000 energy efficiency audits and retro fits for low income households.

Moreland Energy Services

A local energy services company developing local sustainable energy generation.

The Moreland Solar City project is led by the Moreland Energy Foundation in partnership with the Moreland City Council, Sustainability Victoria and the Brotherhood of St Laurence, along with a range of other key supporters.

Aiming for a sustainable community, Moreland Solar City will:

find practical ways to improve the energy efficiency of our homes and businesses

assist those less able to change

produce the energy we need sustainably and

create new places to live and work that tread lightly on our planet.

To find out more about Moreland Solar City or any of the key components, have a look at the website: www.morelandsolarcity.org.au