BREAZE enews - Community Power Hub Answers and more

I am pleased to let members know that at the March Board Meeting two new members were nominated and appointed to fill casual vacancies on the Board.

Mary Debrett, a retired university lecturer in media and communications, will assist us in reviewing our strategic direction, BREAZE’s brands and our communications. Mary is keen to prepare articles for print and social media.

Jeremy Hunt has been appointed to the BREAZE Public Fund Committee, an important role to ensure the fundraising and initiatives and governance of the fund is maintained.

We welcome their input and remind members that there are still other casual vacancies.

I would like to thank our board and committee members for their collective efforts over recent weeks in delivering our stall at the Smart Building and Living Expo in Buninyong, the delivery and planning of our Smart Living Ballarat monthly lunchtime workshops at the Ballarat Central Library, the BREAZE Public Fund’s successes in attracting significant funds for the Social Renewables program, the Statewide Community Power Hubs 2 day forum in Ballarat and the Ballarat Farmers Markets.

Much is happening nationwide with renewable energy initiatives and it is pleasing to see that many shareholding companies are investing heavily in wind, solar and battery storages, while none are wanting to take the financial risk investing in coal fired power stations. This week we expect announcements on the result of the Victorian Renewable Energy Reverse Auction for 650 MW of large scale solar and wind installations.

The mining industry is however ramping up political pressure to support the Carmichael Adani Coal Mine and coal seam gas extraction.

I invite members to support campaigns through #Stop Adani, Galilee Blockade, Lock the Gate Alliance.

BALLARAT FARMERS MARKET - Further Update

Breaze will manage the Ballarat Farmers Market until 30 June 2018 and does not wish to manage the market after this date due to the need for our volunteers to focus on delivering its Smart Living Ballarat monthly workshops and a number of high profile other events.   BREAZE is in discussions with our current market manager, Steve Burns, who is proposing to make application to the City of Ballarat for permission to conduct a farmers market at Lake Wendouree on the 2nd Saturday of each month and at the Brown Hill Hall on the 4th Saturday of the month after expiry of the current approved term.   All indications are that this will proceed, so the markets will continue, even though BREAZE will cease management.

BREAZE wishes to acknowledge and thank the many stallholders, customers, volunteers, entertainers and the City of Ballarat who have contributed to the successful operation of the Ballarat Farmers Market during the period 2014 to 2018. We wish all success for the continued operations of the market at Lake Wendouree and Brown Hill Hall

For further information or comment please refer to Ian Rossiter phone 0467 220 442

Every year the Smart Living and Building Expo donates the money raised from its Auction and Raffle to a sustainable cause.

This year they have generously donated $1,500 to the BREAZE social solar program.

The Smart Building and Living Expo showcases local sustainable building and lifestyle services and products for people planning to build or retrofit sustainable homes, and those interested in sustainable transport, lifestyle and food choices.

It runs on the last Sunday in February each year, in Buninyong. and provides an opportunity for the community to come and talk about all things sustainable.

While presenting the cheque to Paul Duggan, board member of BREAZE, Andrea Mason , director of the expo said:

"The successful Auction and Raffle team, led by Belinda Wardle were excited to donate this money to the social solar program.  It is great to see the benefits of efficient, cheap and clean solar power being able to be used across the whole community."

BALLARAT: THE HEART OF THE NETWORK

The AusNet Services Ballarat Terminal Station (BATS) at 124 Coulsons Road in Warrenheip is the central hub for the electricity transmission network in western Victoria.

It is the ideal location for the battery energy storage system to provide both peak electricity demand generation, and electricity network support functions. The battery facility will complement the existing infrastructure and use of the site.

See all the details at https://www.spotless.com/bess/

Here is a video presentation, all about the projects that have been identified for feasibility studies as Community Power Hub projects in the Ballarat region, including the flagship project.

You will also gain a better idea of what the local community power hub is offering. We are also looking for more great community energy projects ideas/proposals to add the investigation pipeline.

This is a video of the Smart Living Ballarat event, held in the Ballarat Library on Wednesday the 21st of February 2018.  To see the upcoming Free library events, run by Smart Living Ballarat, please see the events on their facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/smartlivingballarat/

Thanks to our volunteer, Stephanie Patterson, for creating this video for BREAZE.

Delegates Come from Across Victoria to Participate in Community Power Hub Gathering

BREAZE and the Regional Sustainability Alliance Ballarat (RSAB) hosted two important events last month (21 to 22 March 2018) attracting interest from La Trobe Valley, Melbourne, Bendigo and Ballarat.

The Community Power Hub (CHP) Pilot Program funded by the Victorian Government has not for profit organisations operating the program in Bendigo, La Trobe Valley and Bendigo. The CPH team members and their support staff from Sustainability Victoria and Depart

ment of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP) met with delegates of the RSAB to hear from Andrew Lang (World Bioenergy Congress) about bioenergy projects suitable for regional Victoria that Andrew had visited in Europe and New Zealand and from Keith Jackson from Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group about current issues, strategies and projects relating to waste management across the region.

Wednesday 18th April at 12:30 - 1:30

at the Ballarat library

The All Electric Home

Alternatives to fossil fuel, gas & wood this winter.

Presenter Tim Forcey will discuss how high-efficiency electric heat pumps for space heating,  cooling,  water heating and clothes drying are the future for the environment and our hip pockets.

BREAZE will be organising a lunch with Tim afterwards @ 1:45 at a nearby venue.   If you are interested in attending please contact to reserve your seat.

Presented by Tim Forcey

Attached Files :
StallholderInformationBooklet2015.docx
StallholderInformationBooklet2015.pdf
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