About Council
The City of Marion has decided to make a greener choice and spend a bit more to install an electric heater system for the Marion Outdoor Pool.
The new electric inverter heating system will cost $595,000 instead of the $120,000 gas system originally budgeted for Council’s 2018 pool upgrade plan but the electric heat pumps are expected to pay for themselves in a little over seven years.
The system is also expected to save Council nearly $500,000 in energy costs over a 15-year period compared with the gas heater option.
Elected Members were also advised that solar panels for the electric system could be investigated as a future project.
A report to Council said the existing gas system, which heats the main pool, learner pool and water slide, is 18 years old and needs to be replaced during the winter pool closure period.
The report also said Council approved its multi-stage improvement program for the pool (with the gas heater option) in 2018 before adopting its Carbon Neutral Plan back in 2021.
This plan sets a target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Phasing out the use of natural gas in council buildings is a key component.