J’roo solar initiative Warning: report theft

The Jamberoo Valley Ratepayers and Residents Association (JVRRA) is assessing the viability and interest in installing a community solar battery.

Jamberoo resident and change consultant, Wendy Stamp, who was guest speaker on the subject at the April meeting, says she and husband Terry are greatly inspired by Victoria’s first community-owned battery, part of Yackandanda’s 100 per cent renewable plan.

The Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY) Community Battery and the Twist Creek Microgrid were both opened in July 2021. The town is now powered entirely by solar and storage.

“My husband and I realised that Jamberoo is that same kind of town – with a very strong- minded community and a great mix of people with great community spirit.

“I began to do some research on storing energy collectively and found that one community battery could power 250 households (family homes).”

As Australians try to lower energy bills and at the same time cut emissions, the power of solar has become quite a talking point in many communities.

In 2021, Endeavour Energy proposed a project to Kiama Council, as part of its Community Battery Initiative Program, to install a battery on Council land in Henry Parkes Drive.

Endeavour says they are still intending a community battery for Kiama, but haven’t as yet finalised the timeline.

JVRRA has formed a committee to further investigate community interest in a battery and to check out all State, Federal and council grants that might be available to them.

“Our first step will be to reach into the community,” says committee chair Peter Kennedy. “There will be many questions and we need to do much research so we can provide the answers.”

The other committee members include Wendy Stamp, Brad Wenzel and Roger Lyle.

Wendy says once the community has been engaged, a feasibility study and a model will be created, “Eventually, the Jamberoo Power Company should be able to generate way more power than this community can consume.”

Wendy points to Ausgrid’s three east coast trials, at www.ausgrid.com.au/ In-your-community/ Community-Batteries

Gerringong residents have reported an increase in cars and homes being broken into over the past few weeks.

While the incidence of theft from a motor vehicle stood static at 71 in 2022 according to official statistics, many incidents may go unreported given the anecdotal evidence.

It is important to report any incidents to the police so that they can be included in the official crime statistics which are published by BOSCAR (www.bocsar.nsw. gov.au) each year. Without statistical backing, it can be hard to allocate extra police resources.

Rachel Preddy’s car was one of three broken into on Tasman Drive on Monday March 27 at 12.20am.

“Surveillance footage shows two men with torches looking into the cars first and then using crowbars to pop out the windows. The glass from my window was found on the headland opposite,” she says.

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“I had two handbags stolen as they were sitting on the front seat and coins in the console. I had taken my wallet inside thankfully.

“The other vehicle was my nephew’s girlfriend’s car and she had a Louis Vuitton wallet and other expensive items taken as she had forgotten to take her bag inside.”

Rachel reported the break-ins to the police who, she says, were fantastic in their response. They took some good fingerprints from her car and she says a neighbour is also making some video footage available for the police.

A week before this incident, Jacqui Watson was driving through Gerringong late at night when something hit the side of her new car.

“I screamed to a halt and took off after one guy while my son took off after another,” she says.

She managed to apprehend a 14 year old, rang the police to report the incident, then waited around over two hours for a police car to arrive and deal with the continued on page 10