15 July 2010

Townsville Queensland Solar City is inviting local artists to come up with designs for the project’s solar park, which will be a demonstration place for the Solar Suburb project on Magnetic Island.

The new 100 kilowatt solar park will consist of steel fins that will be decorated with public art cut in by laser. The fins will support the solar panels over the skate park, community stage and home and away team pavilions overlooking the sports field.

Up to ten designs consistent with themes within the Solar Park will be chosen from four categories:

skate park related, sport and recreation, iconic Magnetic Island and solar inspired design.

Acting Solar City Community Engagement Manager Stephanie Hunt said she was pleased the community would be given the opportunity to contribute to the designs.

“The entire solar park project has been a community collaboration and it’s important the public art reflects that as well as promote iconic things to see and do on the island,” said Ms Hunt.

“The call for artwork is open to artists who live or practice in the Magnetic Island and Townsville areas. In keeping with the family-friendly facilities, the skate park related design category is only open to local children and school students to ensure their perspective is captured.

“A selection panel of five includes a community representative, a local artist and a technical design judge in addition to two members from the Solar City team.

“The two-stage design process will culminate with an artwork presentation to the community at the Smart lifestyle Centre on Magnetic Island on 27 August, 2010.”

The solar park will make a significant contribution towards project objectives to provide up to one megawatt of renewable power systems on Magnetic Island’s electricity grid and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50,000 tonnes by 2013.

The final design of the park was arrived at after extensive consultation with the local community over a period of eight months. It adds considerable new facilities to the island’s infrastructure including solar shade over the skate park, picnic pavilions, sporting pavilions, a sound stage and a road side shelter for visitors arriving at or leaving the grounds.

Construction on the solar park is expected to start in October and be completed by Christmas when the new facilities will be in heavy demand by residents and visitors over the summer holiday season.

The artwork design brief can be downloaded from www.townsvillesolarcity.com.au or interested people can call  4727 6185.