Fiona Nash

Minister for Regional Development

Minister for Local Government and Territories                                                                                                   

Minister for Regional Communications
Deputy Leader of The Nationals

John Williams

Senator for New South Wales

29 September 2017

Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre now powered by solar

New solar panel system will reduce energy costs and carbon emissions

The Coalition Government contributed $113,636 towards the project.

The Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre will have much lower energy bills after a solar power system was installed.

Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said the reduced energy bills would mean the Gallery and Art Centre could direct the money saved to other things.

“The solar system will save up to $48,500 a year,” Minister Nash said.

“I aim to build the kinds of communities our children and grandchildren want to either stay in or come back to, and supporting local art galleries does just that.”

Senator for New South Wales John Williams said the gallery attracts 125,000 tourists from around the nation every year, and those tourists spend their money in the region.

“This solar system adds to previous improvements to the gallery, such as the opening of the Margaret Olley Art Centre in 2014,” Senator Williams said.

“The completed solar system coincides with two exhibition openings at the gallery, the Brett Whiteley: other places (somewhere else) exhibition touring from the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Caldera Art 2017 – Promoting biodiversity values in Australia’s Green Cauldron exhibition.

The Federal Coalition Government invested $113,636 and Tweed Shire Council contributed to the Small-scale Technology Certificates for the solar panel system.