Bentleigh Secondary College
A 5 Star Sustainable School
Bentleigh, Victoria
Head of Sustainable Practices
Bill Thomas
Institutio
Excellentia
Bentleigh Secondary College (BSC)
is a State Government school located in
Melbourne’s southeast. Sustainability
has been a focus and driving force for
their teaching and learning program
as well as for their role in the wider
community.
As part of their ongoing commitment
to sustainability, Bentleigh Secondary
College have installed two water tanks,
with a 50,000 litre and 125,000 litre
capacity. The collected rain water is
used in the toilet blocks for flushing. A
wetland area has been constructed in
the school grounds that filters excess
storm water through the wetland
plants. The water is then channelled into
a 50,000 litre underground storage tank
that is used to irrigate the playing fields
through a sub-surface irrigation system.
In a typical rainfall year, the wetland
area processes around 6 megalitres of
water. The innovative wetland area is
utilised as an outdoor classroom, as well
as improving biodiversity and providing
valuable habitat for flora and fauna.
An Urban Forest has been planted, which
approximates an area of 2,500m2. This
is also utilised as an outdoor classroom,
as well as increasing biodiversity and
reducing the carbon footprint by
sequestering carbon.
Water usage is monitored with South
East Water’s HydroShare and the Schools
Water Efficiency Programme (SWEP),
which uses data loggers attached to water meters that record usage and help
identify leaks. All of these water saving
initiatives have reduced the total water
usage by a massive 91%.
Initially, a 5.25kW photovoltaic solar
system was installed, with an additional
60 panels installed in December
2013. This increased the total solar
56 SwitchOn
photovoltaic capacity to 19.8kW.
All together, (as of 8th April 2014)
the solar system has generated
55,407kWh of electricity and
avoided 72,583kg of greenhouse gas
emissions.
the heart of the Moorooboon
Wetland. The building is unique
within Australia and “a true
community facility.” The M&ICC
has received a number of
architectural awards and the
building is available for use by the
A large Harvest Garden has been
many community groups who
constructed from the school’s
have supported its development.
recycled toner cartridges and is
watered with harvested water. The
food produced from the garden is
used in food technology classes.
Recently, an Aquaponics system
was installed in the Harvest Garden
precinct that incorporates growing
fish as part of an intensive food
growing program.
The school has a beautiful Meditation
and Indigenous Cultural Centre
(M&ICC), which is a 100% sustainable
and recyclable building located in