Matraville’s popular entertainment venue Club Matto and South Maroubra Surf Lifesaving Club are both now powered by sunshine after installing solar power systems on their roofs, as part of the Tri-Council Solar my Club program.

“It’s really valuable when popular spaces in our community choose to opt for sustainable answers to their energy needs,” stated Randwick Mayor Danny Said. “It says to the community, not only do we care about protecting this environment for future generations, but that sustainable energy is worth exploring and investing in. It makes sense, not just for their bottom line but for the environment too.”

The 88-panel system will help Club Matto reduce their electricity running costs by $7k each year from using free, clean energy produced on-site from sunshine. With renewable energy they will help avoid 44 annual tonnes of carbon emissions from traditional coal-fired electricity, which is the equivalent to taking 15 cars off the road each year.

“We truly appreciate the advice and assistance from the Tri-Council’s Solar my Club team from start to finish,” said Gregory Hadley, General manager of Club Matto. “By making the process easy, it means that Club Matto can help the environment and reduce our power costs going into the future.”

South Maroubra Surf Lifesaving Club’s new 39.59 kW solar power system will cover half of their energy needs and save them around $10k each year in reduced energy bills.

Yvette Rutherford, Finance Director at the Club is pleased with the installation. “With plenty of unshaded roof space and as a local community hub, it a no-brainer for surf clubs like ours to go solar,” she says. “Solar helps us reduce our carbon footprint, save thousands on energy bills and hopefully inspire our members and patrons to do the same on their own properties.”

The Tri-Council Solar my Club program, jointly run by Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra Councils, offers free support to clubs and community organisations in the eastern suburbs to install solar.

Currently 26 organisations are participating, and on their way to a renewable energy future. The initiative builds on the success of the award-winning Solar my School program which has helped 20 Randwick schools reap the benefits of solar power systems on their rooftops.

Both Clubs gratefully received a $3000 rebate for their solar power project through Randwick Council’s Sustainability Rebates program. South Maroubra SLSC also received funding from Clovelly Community Bank, NSW Community Building Partnerships and RESINC Solar to pay for their system.

To find out more, email info@solarmyclub.org.au.