hirteen councils and community groups, including South Gippsland and Wellington, have been awarded nearly $2.4 million in major grants from AusNet’s Energy Resilience Community Fund. The funding aims to strengthen long-term energy resilience and support communities during severe weather events.
Andrew Linnie, AusNet’s Executive General Manager of Distribution, explained that the fund was created to help communities recover from prolonged power outages and emergencies. “These projects will deliver significant improvements, ensuring communities stay connected and safe during critical times,” he said.
South Gippsland Funding Highlights
South Gippsland received a total of $514,967, distributed among three recipients:
Kongwak Public Hall: $94,769 for a generator and Starlink system, enabling the hall to function as an Emergency Relief Centre.
Mirboo Country Development: $146,548 to upgrade electrical infrastructure, including changeover switches, allowing critical businesses to connect to generators.
South Gippsland Shire Council: $273,650 for an emergency response vehicle, a generator trailer, and two Starlink units.
Wellington Shire Funding Highlights
In Wellington, Yarram Neighbourhood House received $270,000 to install generators and generator plugs at key sites, such as the local service station. This will ensure access to food and fuel for the community and emergency services during crises.
Other Grant Recipients
Nine additional councils and groups also received funding:
Baw Baw Shire Council: $75,053 to upgrade five remote community halls for mobile generator connections.
Casey City Council: $63,372 to equip three sporting pavilions with shower and power hubs, enabling them 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’s Community Hub: $265,000 for a new generator, battery, switchboard, and solar PV expansion.
Strathbogie Shire Council: $130,190 for a 160kVA generator and infrastructure to support an Emergency Relief Centre.
Wellington Shire (additional funding):
Cowwarr Football Netball Club: $160,000 for solar upgrades, a battery, and a three-phase inverter.
Seaspray Surf Lifesaving Club: $302,385 for a solar PV and battery energy storage system.
Wellington Shire Council: $246,000 to integrate emergency power across multiple sites in Sale and Yarram.
Yarra Ranges Shire: Millgrove Residents Action Group received $277,115 for solar PV, battery storage, and an inverter at Millwarra Primary School and Community Hall.
Background
AusNet established the $12 million Energy Resilience Community Fund in response to the severe storms in February 2023. The fund supports projects across AusNet’s electricity distribution network in eastern and north-eastern Victoria, as well as Melbourne’s north and east.
This initiative underscores AusNet’s commitment to helping communities prepare for and recover from energy disruptions caused by extreme weather events.
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