My fellow councillors (except Herman Beyersdorf and Chris Halligan) refused to approve a development application for a solar air heater in the heritage area on Mann Street.
Councillors were given a briefing report suggesting only a minimal loss of efficiency from moving the system to an east or west-facing roof.
My calculations, however, show a loss of more than 50% from moving to the eastern roof, and a similar loss for the western roof – 30% plus the loss from shading by trees to the west.
The installation itself does not seem particularly ugly or intrusive. By banning such things, in the face of increasing energy costs, and the need to protect our planet by reducing greenhouse emissions, we risk making heritage areas less attractive places to live in and enjoy.
Just as we rarely notice TV aerials or cars (which aren’t heritage items either!) I hope that solar systems will also become so common we don’t notice them. Instead, we see an attractive, cared-for area which respects and enhances the value of its heritage architecture.
Am I correct? Perhaps the community could let us know if they want Council to ban solar installations in heritage areas, when, as in this case, there are no viable options except a north street-facing roof.
Dorothy L Robinson,
Armidale Dumaresq Councillor
