car park update
moving toward a more sustainable future
Wests Illawarra’s landmark solar car shade project is now open, representing the biggest investment in a solar car shade project of its kind in the Illawarra and one of the largest in the Australian clubs’ industry.
Wests Illawarra’s landmark solar car shade project is now open, representing the biggest investment in a solar car shade project of its kind in the Illawarra and one of the largest in the Australian clubs’ industry.
This sustainability-driven upgrade enhances both environmental impact and customer experience, setting a new benchmark for clubs nationwide. The project features:
- a full concrete resurfacing of the car park
- three waterproof solar shade structures with a total of 365 kW of solar capacity
- four 22 kW EV charging stations
- integrated security and energy efficient lighting.
Combined with our existing rooftop solar, Wests Illawarra now boasts a 590-kW system, which will generate the equivalent clean energy to power around 150 homes or take 130 petrol cars off the road each year.
By producing 30% of our annual electricity needs onsite, we will significantly reduce reliance on the grid, lower operational costs, and generate savings to reinvest into the community.
Matt Demos, Strategic Leader for Facilities, Projects at Wests Illawarra said, “We hope this inspires other organisations to think beyond traditional rooftop solar and embrace large-scale sustainability solutions.”
The Hon. Paul Scully MP, Member for Wollongong and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, attended the unveiling and commented: “Wests Illawarra are leading the charge with their solar car shade project. Most people would not think of a club as wanting to be at the forefront of providing a cleaner, greener energy outcome for their members and visitor, but Wests are.”
The Hon. Alison Byrnes MP, the Federal Member for Cunningham also attended the event and commented: “Wests Illawarra’s solar car shade project is a bold step toward a more sustainable future for our region. It reflects the kind of practical, community-focused leadership we need to see more of – where environmental responsibility is matched with long-term vision.”
The Solar Car Shade Project is part of Wests Illawarra’s Community Strong initiative.
Matt Demos, Strategic Leader for Facilities, Projects, and Port Kembla Golf Club and Renata Garnero, Chief Financial Officer, with The Hon. Paul Scully MP, Member for Wollongong and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces; The Hon. Alison Byrnes MP, the Federal Member for Cunningham; and representatives from project partners Rana Environmental, New England Constructions, Canyon Solar and Smart Commercial Solar.
