Passivhaus, they say?

AT THE council meeting, February 21, in community question time two question were submitted one by Mr John Kuzma and one by Mario Boffa regarding Passivhaus house certification for the Berninneit in Cowes.

The questions: 

1. Would council please provide a copy of the Passivhaus Certification issued for Berninneit in Cowes. 

2. Would council provide each singular Passivhaus test result figures that determined the issuing of the certificate.
Response:

Final Passivhaus certification is a detailed process and involves significant testing and assessment. Final test results are approved in Germany. It is anticipated that results will be available in May.

Berninneit was opened on October 28, 2023, by the then mayor Cr Michael Whelan, who stated the building was a Passivhaus building.

We noticed there was a heap of activity in the last few weeks prior to the opening of Berninneit, seldom seen on Bass Coast shire projects. It may relate to the mayor Cr Micheal Whelan, in his desire to open the Berninneit centre prior to stepping down as Bass Coast mayor in November. 

On Wednesday February 27 I visited Berninneit and noticed a flurry of construction activity with a contractor removing temporary doors installed to allow for the opening off Berninneit in October with Passivhaus doors that had just arrived on site from Germany this week.

Cr Micheal Whelan and the then C.E.O must have been aware of this issue and approved the installation of the temporary doors to facilitate the October opening of the Berninneit centre.

The question Bass Coast ratepayers should ask is what is the cost to the ratepayers for the installation and removal off the temporary doors and are Bass Coast ratepayers prepared to condone wasting money this way?

As to, has the building been Passivhaus certified or has it been all hot air at the moment, why haven’t we been given the truth and proper transparency?

John Trigt