By Laura Michell
Sunshine Energy Park could host a solar energy farm, urban forest and native grassland reserve under a proposal from Brimbank councillor Bruce Lancashire.
At council’s November 15 meeting, Cr Lancashire asked council officers to prepare a report on the proposal, believing it could “correct some environmental injustices” in the west.
Council is due to receive a draft vision for the energy park, which is on the site of the closed Sunshine Landfills, at its December council meeting.
Cr Lancashire said a number of landfill sites across the United States are being repurposed as solar farms.
He said the site could also be used to house a neighbourhood battery.
“There is an opportunity here for partially correcting some environmental injustices that have occurred, such as in the western suburbs of Melbourne,” Cr Lancashire said.
“It is understood that Sunshine has a significant heat island effect. This can be deadly for people living without adequate air conditioning. Tress are one of the most significant methods of reducing the heat island effect.
“The redevelopment of energy park as an urban forest and solar energy farm provides and opportunity for council to correct mistakes of the past and provide a quality environmental outcome for the surrounding sunshine residents.”
Cr Lancashire said industry experts had advised a solar farm council established at energy park at no cost to council and could provide a source of regular income that would be used to help maintain the park.
He said the solar panels could also be removed at any time should council decide to create walking trails through the park.
Cr Ranka Rasic welcomed the proposal, saying it would be great to see council generate income from energy park in the future.
