For a human, the roof of a hot industrial park on a blazing summer day is not where you want to be. But for a solar panel, that’s prime real estate.

The rooftops of warehouses and distribution centres are an untapped source of power, according to a new report from the Smart Energy Council (SEC), but they are being held back by high installation costs and differing views between tenants and owners.

What happened: Yesterday at the National Press Club, Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced the government had a solution for one of these issues: it would expand its renewable energy rebate scheme to include solar setups for commercial and industrial properties.

While largely known for its suburban sprawl, the North Shore is home to a number of industrial parks, in Gore Hill, Lane Cove West, Chatswood East and Hornsby. 

Missing middle: These acres of under-utilised rooftop could be put to work powering Australia, energy experts argue. The SEC report found commercial rooftops formed a “missing middle” of solar generation, between residential rooftop systems and large scale solar farms. 

The expansion of the scheme aims to lower installation costs for rooftop solar on commercial properties by around 20 percent. But many commercial properties are not owned by the businesses who use them. Navigating this relationship between landlords and tenants will be key to the solar program’s success.

Whose roof: In the Chatswood East industrial park many of the companies with rooftop solar either own the building — such as North Shore Timber — or are major businesses like Woolworths and Bunnings.

About 40 of the roughly 100 commercial and industrial properties in Chatswood East are rented. 

David Stuart, who runs a Brookvale paint manufacturing business, has had a large solar set up powering his operations for almost seven years. He said his business saw savings in the thousands within months. 

He told the Lorikeet a nearby tenant would like solar on their rooftop, but the landlord won’t get involved: “It shouldn't be on the tenant to go cap in hand to their landlord.”

Stuart pointed to existing government policy for industrial solar use in Berlin, where new commercial buildings are mandated to have at least 30 percent of their roof area covered in solar panels. 

The SEC said “landlord-tenant misalignment” was largely down to who pays and who reaps the rewards.

The council’s report suggested tax concessions may encourage landlords to act sooner.

Read the full story below.

In exchange for a $100,000 novelty cheque, Ku-ring-gai Council has agreed to keep the dream of renovating Marian Street Theatre alive, but mystery remains as to whether it’s all smoke and mirrors, a trick of the light, misdirection, sound and fury signifying nothing.

What happened: Ku-ring-gai councillors gathered at chambers on Monday for an Extraordinary Meeting relating to a last ditch attempt by locals to preserve the historic Marian Street Theatre. 

The theatre, owned by council, has sat vacant since 2013, when it was found to be non-compliant with the Australian Building Code. Council received approval for a DA to renovate the theatre in 2021, but lacked the funds to do so. 

Residents in support of the theatre have been calling on council to act on the DA in order to prevent it from expiring. In NSW, development consent generally lapses if work does not commence within five years.

Undertaking some internal demolition work — at the cost of around $100,000 — would constitute the job “starting”, thus buying more time for local theatre types to find another source of funding. 

In the last two weeks, the Save Marian Street campaign crowdfunded $100,000, and on Monday presented it to council. Most donations ranged between $50 and $200, with a few donations in the thousands of dollars. 

On Monday, councillors gave way to the theatre group’s demands, allowing the DA to be saved, conditional on them handing over the cash. Council noted that this was not a commitment to reviving the theatre.

What now: Revitalising Marian Street Theatre would cost around $30 million, and supporters are hopeful of receiving a chunk of the federal government’s Thriving Communities program. 

However, in a classic example of how three tiers of government work, any federal funding would require a commitment from the state government to chip in. Save Marian Street plans to lobby state politicians ahead of the NSW state election in March 2027.

When asked whether it was standard practice for council to receive major funds from a community group, a spokesperson for Ku-ring-gai said: “Community groups do contribute to projects, such as clubs raising funds for upgrades to their facilities. In this case, the community group has made the contribution knowing that the project is not guaranteed.”

The plot for the Marian Street Theatre story is still being written, and it’s unclear whether it will ultimately be filed under tragedy, against-the-odds heroism or pure farce.

Read the full story below.

Landlords on the NSW Mid North Coast are making double on short-term rentals than long-term leases. Councils are pleading with them to rent to locals.

Victoria has a 7.5% tax and listings have dropped 0.5%.

Is that a proper solution to the problem?

The National Account's Archie Milligan has the rundown: