Meeting papers

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                                 6 JUNE 2023


5.1     TENDER CONSIDERATION PLAN - COMMUNITY BATTERY


Author              Carbon Reduction Officer, Anne Nolan
                    Environmental Services Department
Index               Subject/21.42 - Carbon Emission Reduction
Attachments         1.   Attachment 1 - Tender Consideration Plan - Community Battery Grant


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Noosa Council identified an opportunity to take the lead in applying for grant funding for the
installation and operation of a Community Battery as a pilot to determine the benefits of such an
initiative to both the community and Council. It is intended that this pilot will enable Council to make
informed decisions moving forward regarding further rollout of batteries across the Noosa
Shire. Noosa Council, applied for funding under the Federal Government’s Community Batteries for
Household Solar - Delivery of Election Commitments Stream 1, which stipulated Noosaville as the
location for the community battery.
Initial research identified that community batteries are an innovative emerging piece of infrastructure,
and a number of trials are being undertaken to determine the operational parameters and revenue
models. Council recognised it would need to partner with an experienced industry expert to
successfully apply for the grant funding and if successful, install and operate the community battery
to achieve the most beneficial outcome for the Noosa community. Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF)
is currently the only not for profit organisation operating an 'in front of the meter' community battery
for community benefit and emissions reduction. Zero Emission Noosa Inc (ZEN Inc) is Noosa’s
community group focussed on achieving net zero emissions for the Noosa LGA.
Noosa Council was advised they were successful in their application for the Federal Government’s
Community Batteries for Household Solar - Delivery of Election Commitments Stream 1, and, subject
to the acceptance of the grant agreement, will be awarded $500,000 for the completion of the
installation of a community battery in Noosaville.
Generally, for a procurement of this value a public tender would be required under Chapter 6
Contract - Part 3 – Default contract procedures - Local Government Regulation 2012, as the value
exceeds $200,000 ex GST. However, community batteries are a new and complicated piece of
infrastructure and as such there are very few entities within Australia that have installed and operated
an ‘in front of the meter’ community battery for the purpose of community benefit and emissions
reduction. Council recognised that it does not have the resources to be able to execute a project of
this nature on its own, largely due to the specialised expertise required. Therefore, an alternative
procurement strategy is proposed.
Under Chapter 6 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 a Tender Consideration Plan (TCP) is
an exception that enables Council to enter into medium sized (ex. GST $15, 000 - $200,000) and
large sized (ex GST. $200,000+) contracts without first inviting written quotes or tenders.
Accordingly, this report recommends the preparation of a TCP as an appropriate procurement
strategy for the establishment of a Community Battery in the Noosa Shire.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Carbon Reduction Project Officer for Tender Consideration
Plan - Community Battery to the Services and Organisation Committee dated 6 June 2023 and:
      A. Resolve to prepare a Tender Consideration Plan, substantially in accordance with the draft
         plan in Attachment 1 for the procurement of the supply, installation and operation of a
         Community Battery, under section 230 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 and;
      B. Delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer to:



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