Darebin Council’s new environmentally sustainable community building – the Reservoir Civic Centre – was officially opened on 23 August. Replacing an old community building in Edwardes Street, Reservoir, the Centre was built over three years at a cost of $8 million. It will house a range of Council services and community organisations in the northern Melbourne suburb.
Darebin Mayor, Councillor Peter Stephenson, said the building was a monument to environmental sustainability.
“It has been designed to use less energy and water, natural lighting and ventilation and recycle as much waste as possible,” Cr Stephenson said. “This will help save the environment and greatly reduce the cost of running the building. It is setting new standards around the world for its design, use of materials and construction methods.”
The building was designed so that 80 per cent of waste generated during construction – or 200 tonnes of rubbish – would not go to landfill. This fits with Darebin’s vision for sustainability to ensure that Council activities eliminate pollution, waste, habitat destruction, climate change and soil degradation.
“We are incredibly proud of the new Centre,” Cr Stephenson said. “It is a practical demonstration of Council’s commitment to the community and environmental sustainability.”
The Centre includes function hall and meeting room; office space for multicultural community groups; Customer Service Centre; Youth Resource Centre; youth recording studio; maternal and child health consulting rooms; toy library; and Internet café.
“Local residents and community groups played a vital role in suggesting the most appropriate services for the Civic Centre,” Cr Stephenson said. “It was purpose built to reflect the diversity of the community and the services they require.”
“It was built according to triple bottom line principles – contributing to community wellbeing, environmental sustainability and the financial responsibility of Council. It is projected that construction costs will be recovered within 10 years, due to the savings from reduced water, gas and electricity use.”
Darebin received $50,000 from EcoRecycle Victoria, $5,000 from the Sustainable Energy Authority and a $27,500 Commonwealth Government rebate for the purchase of photovoltaic cells for the building. For further information contact Communications Officer, Shannon Walker, telephone (03) 9230 4511.
