Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (right) and Warialda Anglican Church Warden Rod Smith inspected the new solar panels that have been installed on the roof of the Warialda Anglican Church vicarage.

Warialda Anglican Church is already saving on its power bills after installing a new solar system, thanks to a $5,000 grant provided through the Federal Government’s Powering Communities Program.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton today visited the Anglican Church to inspect the new solar system which has been recently installed on the roof of the vicarage.

“Energy costs are often one of the biggest overheads for not-for-profit organisations,” Mr Coulton said.

“I’m thrilled to be able to support Warialda Anglican Church to help reduce its power bills and ease financial pressures. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for the parish to raise funds, so these savings from the solar panels will be able to be invested back into the church.

“It’s groups like these that are the heart of communities around my electorate, and this assistance will allow them to continue to grow, invest and support local jobs.”

Warialda Anglican Church Warden Rod Smith said the installation of the 5kW solar generation system is already providing a welcome reduction in electricity costs for the parish operation.

“Our church congregation is made up of 90 per cent of people who are 60-plus years, most of whom are aged pensioners,” Mr Smith said.

“Our capacity to meet regular, ongoing items of expenditure is gradually diminishing, and this system is providing significant relief to the increasing cost of electricity.

“This has been a real boon to us.”

Warialda Anglican Church was one of 10 community groups in the Parkes electorate to receive funding under the $10.2 million Powering Communities Program, which provided each electorate with a total of $67,700 to fund up to 12 small projects.