Green Precincts Fund - Blue Mountains Sustainable Precinct
Water for the Future – Fact sheet
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, September 2009
PDF file
Recipient: Blue Mountains City Council, New South Wales
Funding: $1.5 million
Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains
Photo: W Prince and DEWHA
The Australian Government has granted funding to the Blue Mountains City Council in New South Wales for their Blue Mountains Sustainable Precinct project.
The Blue Mountains Sustainable Precinct project involves greening three large-scale, high-profile sites within the World Heritage Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.
The Echo Point precinct attracts more than three million visitors a year. Key initiatives at the Echo Point visitors centre include:
- installing solar panels (10kW system) producing 18,250kWh a year
- installing high efficiency long-life lighting sources and lighting zoning
- stormwater harvesting and reuse for use in toilets.
The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre and adjacent Civic Centre will feature a World Heritage interpretation centre where the potential impacts of climate change on the surrounding World Heritage area. Key initiatives at these sites include:
- energy efficient design features such as double brick air cavity walls, double glazing and fully insulated roofing
- installing a building management control system – including an energy efficient air conditioning system
- installing gas-fired energy efficient hot water heaters and solar hot water
- installing rainwater tanks (totalling 560 kilolitres in capacity)
- stormwater harvesting and treatment of runoff in rooftop and rain gardens.
The impact of the Blue Mountains Sustainable Precinct will go beyond these on-site savings. Millions of visitors to the sites will be prompted to think more about sustainable living and better manage their own water and energy use.
The three project sites will provide working examples of how effective and clever design can reduce energy and water use and help manage the urban impact on the surrounding World Heritage National Park.
The exhibits will promote wider appreciation of issues such as increasing population, diminishing rainfall, and the impact of climate change on our drinking water supplies.
Interactive displays, signage, interpretive tours and educational material will provide information about the various water and energy efficiency measures used on site to raise awareness about urban run off, stormwater harvesting, greywater reuse and energy efficiency
.The Blue Mountains City Council will coordinate sustainability events, community forums and workshops to involve local businesses and the community, once the project is established.
The Green Precincts Fund is an Australian Government initiative to prepare Australia for a future with less water and to encourage local communities to better manage their water and energy use for current and future generations.
The Blue Mountains Sustainable Precinct project is one of a number of high-profile demonstration projects to be undertaken with funding from the Green Precincts Fund.
Annual savings
Water: 14.4ML Energy: 148,800 kWh CO2 emissions: 132 tonnes
ML = Megalitres kWh = kilowatt hours
More Information
For further information on the Green Precincts Fund you can email greenprecincts@environment.gov.au or call 1800 218 478.
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