GV Community Energy Pty Ltd began in 2008 as a volunteer organisation aiming to establish a bulk purchase agreement for 15 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for families in the Murchison area. An enormous response from the community saw over 450 people attending a public meeting, resulting in the installation of 501 solar PV systems.
This community PV bulk-buy project was followed by a further three projects culminating in 1,700 solar PV installations, 150 solar hot water systems and 31 public seminars/workshops.
In September 2010, the organisation evolved into a not for profit company, managed by a volunteer board, and permanent staff who were responsible for the installation of a further 1,000 solar PV systems and 55 seminars.
Our Vision
GV Community Energy Pty Ltd began in 2008 as a volunteer organisation aiming to establish a bulk purchase agreement for 15 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for families in the Murchison area. An enormous response from the community saw over 450 people attending a public meeting, resulting in the installation of 501 solar PV systems.
This community PV bulk-buy project was followed by a further three projects culminating in 1,700 solar PV installations, 150 solar hot water systems and 31 public seminars/workshops.
In September 2010, the organisation evolved into a not for profit company, managed by a volunteer board, and permanent staff who were responsible for the installation of a further 1,000 solar PV systems and 55 seminars.
- Research and promotional programs
- Community engagement and educational programs
- Encouraging government policies that lower carbon emissions and reduce reliance on fossil fuels
- Facilitating the adoption of energy conservation through efficient building design and energy efficient appliances by selling products and undertaking energy efficiency assessments for homes and commercial buildings
- Fostering the introduction of renewable and/or low emission energy technologies
- Fostering behaviour changes that lead to reduced energy consumption and improved community resilience
Board Members
Our Board Members are passionate about the role community energy can play in the Goulburn Valley. Through this experience in both business and community, GV Community Energy have become a leader in renewable energy in the region.
Geoff Lodge (CEO and Executive Director)
Geoff has over 20 years experience in the Victorian public service, based in the Shepparton area, managing natural resource management projects on irrigation properties. Geoff’s combined program management skills and connection within the local community has enabled him to have considerable influence on key stakeholders aligned with GV Community Energy programs.
Terry Court
Terry is a civil engineer with over 40 years experience in the rural water industry, possessing a wealth of professional experience and extensive community involvement in natural resource management, environmental asset restoration, irrigation, drainage, water catchment, river management, industrial relations, human resources, asset management and contract administration.
Ian Christoe
Ian has worked almost entirely on his family mixed farming business at Undera, Victoria. He took over management in 1986 and implemented changes resulting in better irrigation management and crop productivity
Doug Small
Doug’s professional career includes nearly 40 years of research with the Department of Primary Industries, covering irrigated pastures, salinity, soil degradation, effluent reuse, nutrients in drainage, irrigated cropping and organic dairy production. After leaving DPI in 1999, Doug set up an environmental and agricultural consultancy business to consult on soils, irrigation, waste water and environment management systems.
John Pettigrew
John lives at Bunbartha and has had a lifelong connection to the Goulburn Valley. John has a strong horticulture, grazing and irrigation background and is an experienced past director of publicly listed (SPC Limited) and Government Authorities (Goulburn-Murray Water and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority).
Austin Hazeldene
Austin has 15 years experience working on large scale engineering and construction projects across Victoria within commercial building, water and roads industries. He is based in Benalla and has strong community ties within the surrounding North East Region.
Statement of Purpose
To reduce the regions greenhouse gas emissions to restore atmospheric balance. This will be achieved by:
- Fostering behavior changes that lead to reduced energy consumption
- Undertaking research and promotional programs
- Undertaking community engagement and educational programs
- Facilitating the adoption of energy conservation through efficient building design and energy efficient appliances
- Promoting the introduction of renewable and/or low emission energy sources to our region.
- Providing a community service to assist residents, businesses, community organizations and government authorities to lower carbon activities
- Encouraging political parties to implement lower carbon alternatives
- Ensuring political independence by not aligning to any particular political party
- Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels