Funding To Reduce Carbon Footprint At Disability Complex

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The Minister for Human Services, Lin Thorp, today announced $10,000 in State Government funding to help install an environmentally friendly energy system at a Launceston accommodation complex for people with a disability.

Ms Thorp said the Government funding for the St Michael’s Association Inc. would match, dollar for dollar, an additional $10,000 donated by green-accredited architects, Birrelli Architecture – the firm that designed the award-winning complex.

She said the $20,000 total funding would enable the establishment of a solar system to generate power for St Michael’s Newstead campus which comprises six independent living units for adults with a disability.

The State Government originally provided $765,050 in funding for St Michael’s to develop the Newstead residential support complex.

The association also receives recurrent State funding of more than $1.4 million per annum.

Ms Thorp said that since opening in 2007, the units had been a great asset for people with a disability living in the North who had been able to develop skills to assist them to live more independently.

“St Michael’s has been at the forefront with the development of these innovative, user-friendly units, which have won accolades for their accessibility for people with a disability,” she said.

“And now the organisation continues to lead the way with its environmentally sensitive approach to ongoing developments at the site.”

Ms Thorp said the solar system would generate power for the Newstead campus’ own energy consumption, and then feed excess energy back into the main electricity grid.

She said the project would build on environmentally-friendly initiatives already under way at the Newstead complex, including the installation of tanks and pumps to harvest rainwater and recycle it on site.

St Michael’s has operated in Tasmania for more than three decades, and continues to provide a range of services and accommodation to adults with intellectual disabilities.

“I’d like to congratulate the organisation, and wish all current and future residents of the Newstead facility every success on their environmentally-friendly path towards independence,” Ms Thorp said.