Resilience upgrades delivered across 21 key buildings

Resilience upgrades delivered across 21 key buildings

Published on 16 April 2025

Yarra Ranges Council has successfully completed a landmark $6 million resilience project, upgrading 21 key community sites with solar panels, batteries, generator plug-in points, LED lighting, and HVAC systems over the past three years.

With funding from the Federal Government's Preparing Australian Communities grant, the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, and the Victorian Government's Growing Suburbs Fund, this combined investment has strengthened emergency preparedness, reduced emissions, and lowered energy costs-delivering long-term benefits for communities across the Yarra Ranges.

Yarra Ranges Council Mayor, Jim Child described the project as a game-changer for community resilience, providing vital infrastructure to support residents during extreme weather events.

"We've seen first hand the impact of storms, bushfires, and power outages on our communities," Cr Child said.

"These upgrades mean local halls, sporting pavilions, and community centres can now act as emergency hubs-offering power, light, and a safe place to gather when it matters most."

Project Highlights include:

• Monbulk Microgrid- A first for the region, this microgrid connects the Monbulk Sporting Pavilion and Monbulk Living and Learning Centre, allowing them to share solar and battery power and remain operational when the grid fails.
• Healesville Resilience Hub - Upgrades to the Healesville Library and Link battery system increase backup power capabilities, supporting more critical services during outages.
• 21 sites now have generator plug-in points, doubling the number of locations that can connect to backup power.
• Purchase of Three mobile generators, ensuring flexible deployment across the municipality during prolonged outages.
• Solar and battery upgrades at sites including Belgrave Community Hub, Olinda Pavilion, Wandin North Pavilion, Steels Creek Community Centre, Montrose Ken Dowling Pavilion, and Coldstream Community Centre, enabling them to operate as emergency hubs during power outages.

These upgrades are already making a difference for local groups who rely on these facilities every day.

"Steels Creek Community Centre now has the ability to operate independently during power outages which means the community can act immediately in response to the local situation and can provide that timely support where other government assistance takes time to enable," Maree Rothwell, Vice President, Steels Creek Community Centre Committee.

For local sporting clubs, the improvements are just as significant.

"It's an exciting thing for our club and our broader community. We have over 1,000 members who use this pavilion and facility-playing cricket, or football, and the energy savings we make can be passed on to them let alone they all know they can come here if the power it out," said Montrose Cricket Club President, Damian Ford.

Yarra Ranges Council Mayor, Jim Child emphasised that this project is about more than just emergency response-it's about community empowerment.

"This investment doesn't just prepare us for disasters-it gives power back to the community, quite literally. These sites are now more sustainable, more resilient, and ready to support our residents for years to come," Cr Child said.

This completed project marks a major milestone in Yarra Ranges Council's commitment to future-proofing community assets, ensuring residents have the resources they need to stay safe and connected.

For more information, visit: https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Environment/Emergencies/Resilient-Yarra-Ranges/Resilient-Buildings