A total of $2.4 million has been granted to 13 councils and community groups under AusNet’s Energy Resilience Community Fund.
AusNet Executive General Manager Distribution, Andrew Linnie, said the Energy Resilience Community Fund was created by AusNet to fund projects that will build long-term community energy resilience and provide support to communities during the recovery phase of severe weather events.
“These major grant projects will build community energy resilience, delivering important and impactful change to communities across these regions, helping them to stay connected and safe during prolonged outages and emergencies,” Mr Linnie said.
The 13 recipients are:
- Baw Baw Shire Council received $75,053 to upgrade five remote community halls so it can connect to mobile generators.
- Casey City Council received $63,372 to upgrade three sporting pavilions with shower and power hubs, so it can connect to mobile generators and operate as emergency relief centres.
- Mansfield Shire Council received $78,647 for generator, solar and battery systems at the Community Hall and Woods Point Museum so they can operate as emergency relief centres.
- Nillumbik Shire Council’s Community Hub received $265,000 to fund a new generator, battery and switchboard, expand its solar PV and provide plug-in points for mobile generators.
- The South Gippsland region received a total of $514,967 for three recipients:
- Kongwak Public Hall received $94,769 for a generator and Starlink, enabling the hall to operate as an emergency relief centre.
- Mirboo Country Development received $146,548 to upgrade electrical infrastructure, such as installing changeover switches, which will enable critical businesses to connect to generators.
- The South Gippsland Shire Council received $273,650 for an emergency community response vehicle, generator trailer and two Starlink units.
- Strathbogie Shire Council received $130,190 for a 160kVA generator and the infrastructure required for a shower and power hub and meeting rooms, for an emergency relief centre.
- The Wellington Shire region received a total of $978,285 for three recipients:
- Cowwarr Football Netball Club received $160,000 for a solar upgrade, battery and three phase inverter, enabling the club to operate as an emergency relief centre.
- Seaspray Surf Lifesaving Club received $302,385 for a solar PV and battery energy storage system.
- Wellington Shire Council received $246,000 to integrate emergency power across multiple sites in Sale and Yarram. The funding will go towards generators for each site and upgrading switchboards and infrastructure.
- Yarram Neighbourhood House received $270,000 for generators and generator plugs across multiple sites, such as the service station, to ensure that the community and emergency services can access food and fuel during emergencies.
- In the Yarra Ranges Shire, the Millgrove Residents Action Group received $277,115 for solar PV, battery storage and an inverter for community infrastructure at the Millwarra Primary School and Millwarra Community Hall.
AusNet established the $12 million Energy Resilience Community Fund following the storms in February 2024, to support projects across AusNet’s electricity distribution network in eastern and north-eastern Victoria, and Melbourne’s north and east.
Featured image: Andy Waugh/stock.adobe.com
