Greens propose solar farm and affordable housing for Tallawarra Lands

MEDIA RELEASE 
Thursday 7 September, 2017

 Following renewed interest in the status, and stagnation, of the Tallawarra Lands housing development, the Illawarra Greens are keen to take the initiative, and want to see Wollongong Council advocate for an affordable housing solution, incorporating a 20 megawatt rooftop solar farm.

 The original proposal for the area assigned energy production as the first priority, followed by light industrial employment opportunities, and finally housing. Jamie Dixon, Greens candidate for the area feels that “all three of these priorities can be achieved together, especially if the industrial employment is solar panel manufacture. Wollongong has a proud history in the energy production sector, now we have a unique opportunity to continue that with 21st century renewable energy solutions.

“The availability of rail freight transport for raw materials to our door, combined with the engineering and design capabilities of the University’s Innovation Campus, are tremendous assets crying out for greater utilisation. The region currently has a regrettably low uptake rate of rooftop solar, making it the perfect time to kickstartlocal panel manufacture.

A housing development of 500 duplex townhouses, with variable combinations of 1,2 and 3 bedrooms, each with an estimated roof capacity of 200 panels, would at peak, deliver up to 20 megawatts of renewable energy into the local grid. This is based on a 10 metre by 20 metre footprint for each structure, over the approximate 63 hectares allocated for the northern and central housing precincts. 

Mr Dixon goes on to say that “Wollongong Housing Trust has recently informed us that there are over 2,000 low income earners in the our Local Government Area on a 5-10 year waiting list for affordable rental housing. The 500 duplex townhouses we are proposing be built in the Northern and Central precincts of the Tallawarra Lands could clear this list all at once, while leaving the southern precinct an untouched habitat for the existing population of water birds. 

“The combination of the twinned benefits of renewable power generation, and affordable housing made this proposal ideal for the Greens to get behind. We are keen to show Wollongong that the Greens are definitely in favour of housing developments, and will advocate strongly to all parties involved, both state and private, to adopt our take on this community focused option. 

For further information please contact 

Jamie Dixon, Greens Candidate for Ward 3: 0403 402 114

Mithra Cox, Greens Mayoral Candidate: 0425 351 844