Working toward a
sustainable future

Ian Leverington Executive Officer, Anglican Community Fund

One of the Anglican Community Fund’s (ACF) priorities is to assist our clients in funding projects that enhance their mission and add value to our communities. Recently, we partnered with the Swan Valley Adventure Centre to finance the installation of solar power on their site.

For those who may not be familiar, the Swan Valley Adventure Centre is located in Middle Swan on 89 acres along the banks of the Swan River. It features six residential camp houses that can accommodate a total of 302 people per night. The centre offers camps and activities for school and community groups and is enjoyed by many Anglican schools and organisations.

Late last year, Clint Arthur, General Manager of the Swan Valley Adventure Centre took the initiative to embark on a solar power project to enhance sustainability and communicate a positive message to their customers and the community about their commitment to environmental responsibility.

They installed a solar power system providing 132 kW of power, meeting around 85% of the site’s electricity needs. The environmental benefits estimated by the supplier are as follows:

• CO2 Savings: 133,961 kg over the system’s lifetime
• Coal Offset: 1,524 tonnes over the system’s lifetime
• Equivalent Trees Saved: 201 each year during the system’s operation

Additionally, this project offers financial benefits as well. The annual savings on electricity costs are substantial, and the ACF structured the loan over a longer term to provide cash flow benefits to the Swan Valley Adventure Centre. Alternatively, a cash flow-neutral financing structure could pay off the loan in just over three years (39 months). Financing the project made financial sense, as the capital cost did not need to come from Swan Valley Adventure Centre’s operational cash flow, allowing electricity savings to accumulate over time.

This project exemplifies the collaborative effort of the Diocesan Office. Key individuals involved included Keith Stephens, Diocesan Secretary and Executive Officer, who sponsored the project for approval; Torsten Marsden, Chief Financial Officer, overseeing the financial aspects; Kirsten Rhoades, Diocesan Property Services Manager, who provided project advice; and myself at the ACF, facilitating the loan.

If you are interested in exploring energy-efficient options, you may find the Australian Government’s website energy.gov.au useful. It offers resources for businesses (including sector guides) and households.

If your parish, Anglican school, or agency has an environmentally beneficial project that could be financed, please contact the ACF for information on how we can assist.

Published in Messenger April 2025