History, Aims and Objectives

Our Beginnings

The idea of the Environment Centre was conceived by the City of Melville and was taken to heart by the Rotary Club of Melville who, in partnership with the City, developed the Centre.

In the period 1991-1993 the City of Melville, in conjunction with the MRPA, undertook a design process to produce a concept plan for the Piney Lakes Reserve.

Substantial community input was essential for the concept plan and this was achieved via a council committee with community representatives and search conferences to determine the future of the reserve.

The concept plan was adopted during 1992. A unique 50/50 sharing arrangement was negotiated between the State Government and the City of Melville which saw the State Government commit $1 270 000 to the project.

The Centre is located amidst rehabilitated bushland that was once a pine plantation.

The Environmental Education Centre

The Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre opened to the public on 24 November 2001. Since its inception, the Centre has hosted many special events and provided a focus on ecological sustainability for students and the community.

The Centre provides a working demonstration of a range of sustainable development features and is unique in Australia. Many aspects of sustainable lifestyles are demonstrated at the Centre including renewable energy technologies, solar passive design, a building management system and an on-site wastewater treatment facility.

The centre is a resource base for local community organisations, school and higher education students, community interest groups and the general public with access to a working application of a renewable energy technology system.

There are also unique functional spaces for seminars, exhibitions or special events. Group tours and school excursions are also catered for.  For more information on venue hire click here.

Aims and Objectives

Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre's primary objective is to enhance community understanding of the principles of ecologically sustainable development. In its unique urban bushland setting, the Centre encourages students, the community and professional groups to draw inspiration from environmentally sustainable technologies, climate sensible building design, resource conservation and biological waste treatment systems, all of which demonstrate aspects of sustainable urban living.

The key elements of the project were to:

• Establish an accessible education and demonstration facility which, by design, reduces its ecological footprint on the surrounding ecosystem and finite resources therein. A combined solar/wind renewable energy system is capable of producing 11.5kW of energy, forgoing an estimated 8 tonnes of greenhouse emissions per year.

• Increase community awareness of the practical applications of renewable energy technology systems, energy efficient solar passive building design and efficient use of resources.

• Increase community livability, by providing a venue for local community/environmental groups to meet, interact and create social networks. This in turn enhances community sustainability, and encourages community ownership of local environmental issues.

• To provide a unique educational and demonstration facility which will focus on educational use by schools, higher education bodies, community groups and members of the public who wish to study the natural environment, renewable technologies and self sufficient operation by means of the application of environmentally friendly technologies.

• To develop greater community awareness and understanding of renewable energy technologies, the efficient use of energy and the use of alternative technologies for building design and operation that is both cost effective and environmentally sound.