Sun sets on Coast, Tweed solar jobs

MORE jobs are expected to be lost on the Tweed and Gold Coast after a decision by the Federal Government to axe its solar hot water scheme.

The move represents a further blow to an industry still reeling from the slashing of solar power rebates by the NSW and Queensland governments in recent years.

Under the renewable energy bonus scheme — which was due to close at the end of June — the Government offered rebates of $1000 to install a solar hot water system or $600 to install a heat pump hot water system.

 

Dewayne Montey, managing director of Ecovation Water and Energy Solutions and Heavenly Solar, which manufactures solar hot water systems, said plans to hire new staff would be put on hold.

“With no consultation with industry this comes as a huge surprise,” he said.

“We were expecting the program to end at the end of the financial year so we have been gearing up to employ new staff ready for the big push to the end of June and now that is all in disarray.

“We will survive but it makes it very hard to make any management commitments or build any solid business plans because you just don’t know where you stand.”

Mr Montey said he had already been forced to let about 20 staff go in recent months but had been planning to hire about 20 new sales staff and contractors.

The concern over job losses comes as one of the Gold Coast’s largest solar companies, Beyond Building Energy, closed its retail operations, including stores at Tweed and Mermaid Beach.

Clean Energy Council acting chief executive Kane Thornton said the Federal Government decision could put thousands of jobs at risk across Australia.

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