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Home > Bright Projects > Townsville Solar City > Townsville Solar Artwork

Townsville Solar Artwork

A solar inspired public artwork on Magnetic Island will soon celebrate the community doing the bright thing through the Townsville: Queensland Solar City project.

The project, based at Magnetic Island and central Townsville, is installing 500 solar power systems on selected homes and businesses to harness energy free from the sun.

To help the community become more energy efficient 1500 smart meters are being installed and 1700 energy audits are being conducted, offering residents helpful advice on how to reduce their energy use.

Currently the island is already generating enough energy free from the sun to power 65 homes, or 285 kilowatts.

Helping build a virtual solar power station for Queensland

The artwork celebrates Magnetic Island's contribution to help build a virtual solar power station for Queensland. Community by community we've already doubled Queensland's solar energy in less than two years - more than three years ahead of schedule.

You can contribute to the virtual solar power station too by doing the bright thing and installing a solar hot water system or solar power system on your home.

Solar inspired art

A solar artwork has been commissioned by the Queensland Government on Magnetic Island fully funded through a grant provided by the public art fund, art+place, initiative.

Artist Graham Chalcroft's "Eye to the Sky" artwork is an interactive sculpture that will use solar and energy efficient technologies.

The installation involves a four-metre high split dome with an eight-metre diameter. The domes will house a sundial that will show the earth's changes in alignment through the year.

The dome will be constructed of laser cut elements reflecting local fauna and will be split by a path through its centre. Solar powered in ground lighting will illuminate the dome at night.

It will also incorporate in-ground artwork elements around the dome that will be developed in community workshops.

The artwork will be located on Nelly Bay's breakwater and will be surrounded by newly landscaped grounds as part of a Department of Main Roads initiave.

Funding for the artwork was granted to the Office of Clean Energy from art+place, the Queensland Government's public art fund.

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Think a solar artwork is a really bright idea?

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