The Solar City Smart Lifestyle Centre was officially unveiled to the public during a Community Day celebration on Magnetic Island on Saturday.

Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett travelled to the island to take part in the day’s event and was given the honour of cutting the ribbon to declare the centre officially open.

The local community has embraced the Townsville: Queensland Solar City project, with a tremendous turnout for the Community Day, which featured a range of stalls and activities in the grounds surrounding the Smart Lifestyle Centre.

Members of the public were able to take a hands-on approach to learning about energy efficiency with interactive displays throughout the centre along with information about sustainable living.

The Townsville: Queensland Solar City project is part of the Australian Government’s
$93.8 million Solar Cities Program – a visionary energy initiative bringing together industry, business, governments and communities to re-think the way they produce, consume and conserve energy.

The Smart Lifestyle Centre has been created from a refurbishment of the former Magnetic Island Sport and Recreation Club at Horseshoe Bay.

It will now become the Solar City project office as well as an energy efficiency information and interpretive centre for the project and is open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.

The Townsville: Queensland Solar City project is part of the Australian Government's leading-edge Solar Cities initiative. Ergon Energy leads the Townsville Solar City consortium, which includes Townsville City Council, Delfin Townsville, HIG Riverway, Cafalo Pty Ltd and funding partner, the Queensland Government through the Department of Mines and Energy.