Thirteen Victorian councils and community groups will share nearly $2.4 million in funding as part of AusNet’s Energy Resilience Community Fund Major Grants, designed to strengthen renewables and energy resilience in the face of emergencies.
The fund, established with $12 million following severe storms in early 2024, supports projects that enhance energy reliability and provide critical infrastructure during outages and extreme weather events across AusNet’s electricity distribution network in eastern and north-eastern Victoria, as well as Melbourne’s north and east.
“These projects will deliver vital support to communities, helping them stay connected and safe during prolonged outages and emergencies,” Andrew Linnie, Executive General Manager Distribution at AusNet said.
Key projects include upgrades to community hubs, emergency shelters, and critical infrastructure.
Highlights include:
- Baw Baw Shire Council: $75,053 to upgrade five community halls for mobile generator connectivity.
- Casey City Council: $63,372 for upgrades at three sporting pavilions to serve as Emergency Relief Centres.
- Mansfield Shire Council: $78,647 for generator, solar, and battery systems at the Community Hall and Woods Point Museum.
- Nillumbik Shire Council: $265,000 for expanded solar PV, a new generator, battery, and mobile generator connections at the Community Hub.
- South Gippsland Region: $514,967 split between Kongwak Public Hall, Mirboo Country Development, and South Gippsland Shire Council for generator installations, emergency response vehicles, and Starlink units.
- Wellington Shire Region: $978,285 allocated across four projects, including solar PV and battery systems at Cowwarr Football Netball Club and Seaspray Surf Lifesaving Club, and emergency power integration in Sale and Yarram.
- Yarra Ranges Shire: $277,115 for solar PV and battery storage at Millwarra Primary School and Community Hall.
The funding ensures communities are better equipped to respond to and recover from emergencies, with enhanced energy solutions such as solar power, battery storage, generators, and emergency relief infrastructure.
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