Going solar at Double Island Point
By Paul Rees

Double Island Point is one of the most beautiful, unspoilt, semi-wildernesses on Australia’s east coast and yet it is less than an hour’s drive along Noosa’s north shore.
It also has great cultural and historical interest, with the Double Island Point lighthouse standing sentinel on the headland and the lighthouse keepers’ cottages nestled below.
More than 10 years ago the lighthouse was fully automated and the lighthouse keepers’ jobs were lost. The cottages were left empty and although they were not vandalised like many others, exposure to the elements meant they badly needed attention.
Lighthouses were once a Commonwealth responsibility but with automation, responsibility (and the cost of maintenance) was handed to the states. The Queensland Government has leased a number of lighthouse keepers’ cottages to commercial tourism operators.
But in an unusual and courageous move, the Government awarded a 20-year lease over Double Island Point to Noosa Parks Association, a local conservation group. Over its 40-year history, Noosa Parks has fought and won battles that expanded the Noosa and Cooloola National Parks and saved Noosa from high rise development.
The first task for Noosa Parks was to organise restoration of the lighthouse keepers’ cottages. Within a year, Noosa Parks volunteers completely restored both cottages.
These cottages are now rented to Noosa Parks members who stay for a week or two and are expected to work as caretakers during their stay. Bookings are necessary and the cottages are booked out many months ahead.
The next task was to develop and begin implementing a vegetation management plan that would remove weeds and revegetate with endemic species – a massive undertaking that is being accomplished in a partnership with Noosa and District Landcare Group. Noosa Landcare workers and volunteers and Noosa Parks volunteers have cleared and revegetated much of the area surrounding the cottages and will tackle the problem areas around the lighthouse and other parts of the headland in the future.
Although the lighthouse itself runs on solar power, the cottages are powered by a diesel generator that sits atop the headland next to the lighthouse. The constant thump, thump, thump of generators can be heard all around the headland night and day, depending on which way the wind blows.
Anyone visiting this pristine location could not help being both struck by its incredible beauty and appalled by the noise of the generators. The dream was to silence the generators so that the waves crashing against cliffs and wind whining in the trees and rigging could be heard again. The added bonus would be removing the environmental risk of diesel spills occurring in transit on Rainbow Beach and in Cooloola National Park.
The only problem was the up-front cost. Although the diesel generators were expensive to run and maintain and power from the sun is free, a solar power system would cost about $55,000 to establish.
Noosa Parks launched a public appeal and raised about $13,000. The Commonwealth Government provides a rebate for about half the total cost but this is only paid after the system is installed and operating. It seemed the dream would remain just that – a dream.
That’s where Foresters ANA came in. Your Friendly Society is providing financing to Solazone, a supplier and installer of solar power systems, solar water heaters, composting toilets and other environmentally friendly products. This financing will bridge the gap and allow the solar power system to be installed so that the government grant can be paid.
Ernest Gavey from Solazone said he was working with Noosa Parks and the Environmental Protection Agency to come up with a design that would satisfy the cottages’ energy needs without compromising the site’s environmental and cultural values.
“We’re looking at putting solar arrays on the sheds and solar water heaters on the cottages,” Ernest said.
“The system will generate enough power for the cottages to go seven days without any sun at all.”
Ernest said Solazone was originally established in Melbourne in 1983 but was now based on the Sunshine Coast where it employed seven people. Four people were employed in Victoria. He said Solazone had an established relationship with Foresters ANA and the ANA Ethical Super Fund was Solar Zone’s preferred Fund. He encouraged people interested in solar power and other sustainable living products to email info@solarzone.com.au.
The partnership between Foresters ANA, Noosa Parks and Solazone is a fantastic example of community organisations and sustainable business working together to benefit the community and environment.
For more information visit www.noosaparks.org.au and www.solazone.com.au.