In probably one of the worst kept sporting secrets, up to 300 athletes and support staff from Team Scotland will call the Sunshine Coast home in the lead-up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. The team will base their official overseas preparation camp at the Novotel Twin Waters Resort with athletes staying for up to three weeks before the Games begin on the Gold Coast on 4 April 2018. Team Scotland Chef de Mission Jon Doig OBE said the Sunshine Coast provides a great range of facilities and the ideal environment to ensure athletes will be well prepared for the Commonwealth Games, where the team will aim to have its most successful ever overseas Games. “The key to Scotland’s success has always been in our planning and preparation and the Team Camp has always played a vital part in developing our strong team ethos and ensuring everyone is in the best possible shape for the Games,” he said. “We have spent considerable time with all 18 sports identifying the best possible location for their specific needs. ”For the vast majority, the facilities and environment on the Sunshine Coast and at Twin Waters, in particular, will undoubtedly provide the ideal home away from home for the athletes as they adjust to the travel, climate, culture and the unique multi-sport environment of the Commonwealth Games.” @sunshinecoastcouncil #sunshinecoast #scotland #commonwealthgames #sport

A video posted by View News – Sunshine Coast (@viewnews) on

First panels installed on the Sunshine Coast Solar Farm A major milestone for the Sunshine Coast Solar Farm project has been reached with the first solar panel table lifted into place and secured. When the 15 megawatt (MV) solar farm is complete, Sunshine Coast Council will become Australia’s first local government to offset 100% of its electricity consumption from clean energy across all its facilities and operations. Mayor Jamieson said reaching this stage of the Sunshine Coast Solar Farm project had been a culmination of years of hard work and he was proud to be onsite today (Oct 5) to celebrate the significant milestone. The solar farm will deliver $22 million in savings, after costs, for Sunshine Coast ratepayers over the next 30 years. All up, around 15,000 screw piles will be installed in the ground to hold the tables above the flood plain. It takes 10 piles to hold up one table of 40 panels, or 12 piles for a corner table. Each 20mx4m aluminium table is craned into place with a locally designed lifting jig, developed specifically for the project. Two crews using 100 tonne cranes will install about 25 tables each day. Weather dependent, all tables should be up by Christmas. The solar farm is expected to be operational by mid-2017. @sunshinecoastcouncil #sunshinecoast #solar #solarfarm #renewableenergy #greenenergy

A video posted by View News – Sunshine Coast (@viewnews) on

The @sunshinecoastcouncil turned the first sod on the #sunshinecoast ‘s #solarfarm today. #greenenergy #solar #solarpower

A video posted by View News – Sunshine Coast (@viewnews) on