Twenty-eight councils and community groups across Victoria will receive close to $900,000 from the third round of AusNet’s Energy Resilience Community Fund.
Executive General Manager Distribution, Andrew Linnie, said the Energy Resilience Community Fund, which provides Energy Resilience and Education and Literacy Grants, supports projects that will help build long-term community energy resilience and provide support to communities during severe weather events.
“We know how important energy is to our communities’ and customers’ lives. When severe weather or other emergencies happen, this becomes even more important,” said Mr Linnie.
“We are actively investing in our network to improve reliability and resilience. Through these grants, we’re contributing to the creation of energy resilience hubs and infrastructure that help communities access vital services and facilities and stay connected and safe during prolonged outages and emergencies,” he said.
AusNet established the $12 million Energy Resilience Community Fund following the storms in February last year, to support energy resilience and literacy projects across AusNet’s electricity distribution network in eastern and north-eastern Victoria, and Melbourne’s north and east.
Round three recipients by Council area are highlighted below:
Alpine Shire (2 projects totalling $71,800)
- Sustainable Upper Ovens in Bright received $23,500 for an Energy Education and Literacy Grant to enable local schools to develop YouTube videos focusing on how to become more energy resilient and environmentally aware.
- Running Creek St Alban’s Hall Resilience Hub received $48,300 for solar and battery storage to create a community resilience hub during severe weather events and outages. The system will provide power for cooking facilities, refrigeration and device charging during emergencies, severe weather events and outages.
Bass Coast (4 projects totalling $89,505)
- Bass Valley Community Group received $18,696 for solar and battery storage at the Bass Community Centre to create a community resilience hub. The system will provide power for cooking facilities, refrigeration and device charging during emergencies, severe weather events and outages.
- Grantville Recreation Reserve Committee of Management received $33,630 for a new inverter, battery and generator to create a community resilience hub. The system will power cooking facilities, refrigeration and charge devices during emergencies, severe weather events and outages.
- State Emergency Service San Remo Unit received $12,179 for a generator and change-over switch, to enable continuous power for cooking facilities, refrigeration and device charging during emergencies, severe weather events and outages.
- Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club in Woolamai received $25,000 to replace the existing solar with a new, high-efficiency solar system and install a second battery system. This will enable the continuation of year-round demands of emergency callouts, training programs, and lifesaving operations.
Baw Baw (3 projects totalling $106,234)
- Baw Baw Shire Council received $18,108 for an Energy Education and Literacy Grant to create 11 workshops to help residents create a home emergency tool kit to manage power outages. The workshops will strengthen community resilience and recovery from outages and extreme weather events.
- Frankie’s Community Kitchen in Warragul received $50,000 for new solar panels, batteries and a backup generator to provide an uninterrupted power supply during power outages. Continuous power will enable Frankie’s to continue food production and provide a hub for food relief organisations, giving them a place to store perishables during power outages.
- Neerim South Public Hall Committee of Management received $38,127 for a new generator and switchboard upgrade at the Algie Hall to strengthen the community’s ability to respond to and recover from power outages and severe weather events.
Cardinia (2 projects totalling $95,888)
- Emerald Village Pharmacy received $47,260 for a three-phase trailer mounted diesel generator integrated with a smart inverter and battery system. This will support the pharmacy during power outages enabling them to continue supporting the pharmaceutical needs of the community.
- Bunyip Renewables Action Group in Bunyip received $48,628 for a battery and back-up generator to enhance energy resilience for the tennis and netball clubhouse. This will strengthen the community’s ability to respond and recover from power outages and severe weather events.
East Gippsland (3 projects totalling $92,193)
- Benambra Neighbourhood House received $40,367 for new solar panels and battery storage. The system will provide power for cooking facilities, refrigeration and device charging during emergencies, severe weather events and outages.
- Buchan General Store received $34,826 for a generator to keep the store and postal service operational. This will enable the community to continue to buy goods, access EFTPOS and pay bills during emergency events, when all roads in and out of Buchan could be closed.
- Rimstone Co-operative in Buchan received $17,000 for a new solar battery system. Continuous power will enable them to provide temporary accommodation to emergency services and response and recovery teams during severe weather events and emergencies and act as a resilience hub for the community to charge devices, prepare meals and access hot water and refrigeration.
Indigo (3 projects totalling $ 75,535)
- Totally Renewable Yackandandah received a $25,000 Energy Education and Literacy Grant to develop seminars which will be held in three Indigo Shire communities to help people plan their own Energy Action Plan, with an emphasis on low-income homes.
- Yackandandah Pharmacy received $32,535 for a solar and battery system to enable the pharmacy to maintain refrigeration, power essential equipment and remain open during emergency events.
- Golden Heritage Accommodation in Beechworth received $18,000 for a battery and generator to support the existing solar system. During emergency events, health professionals, first responders and emergency response teams require accommodation. Close proximity to Beechworth Hospital makes this the only accommodation facility that could continue to operate during an extended emergency event.
Latrobe (3 projects totalling $66,008)
- Gippsland Climate Change Network received a $24,999 Energy Education and Literacy Grant to fund an education and engagement program, bringing together students from rural and remote schools across East Gippsland to build knowledge and practical skills around energy resilience.
- Churchill Neighbourhood Centre received $12,858 for two inverter generators and digital radios, improving the Centre’s ability to respond to power outages and extreme weather events. One generator and radio set will be based at the Centre, enabling it to act as an informal coordination and relief point. The second set will be deployed with the Mobile Resilience Hub, a purpose-built trailer used across Gippsland to provide food relief, cooking facilities and communication support during emergencies.
- Tyers Soccer Club received $28,151 to install a solar and battery system at the clubrooms to operate as a community resilience hub outage when emergency and weather events leave residents without access to essential services.
Mansfield (1 project totalling $50,000.00)
- Mansfield Adult Community Education received $50,000 for a solar and battery system to create a community resilience hub to provide power for cooking facilities, refrigeration and device charging during emergencies, severe weather events and outages.
Murrindindi (1 project totalling $41,496)
- Murrindindi Shire Council in Alexandra received $41,496 for a trailer-mounted mobile generator to support emergency preparedness and community resilience across the Murrindindi Shire. The mobile generator will provide critical back up power source for Emergency Relief Centres in Alexandra, Flowerdale, Yea, Kinglake and Eildon, enabling these facilities to remain operational and support local communities during emergency events.
South Gippsland (3 projects totalling $87,799)
- Mirboo North Hardware received $5,737 for a generator to provide backup power, allowing the hardware store to supply essential items to the community during emergency events while also providing a source of power to recharge battery operated tools and devices.
- Fish Creek Memorial Hall received $36,748 to install a generator which will provide the community with access to power, heating, cooking facilities and somewhere to charge devices during extended outages and severe weather events.
- Country Fire Authority Loch Brigade received $45,314 for a generator at the Loch CFA which will provide the community with access to power, heating, cooking facilities and somewhere to charge devices during extended outages and severe weather events.
Wangaratta (1 project totalling $42,870)
- King Valley United Football Netball Club received $42,870 to install a new solar and battery-powered backup system at Whitfield Recreation Reserve, a designated Neighbourhood Safer Place (Bushfire Place of Last Resort) and Emergency Relief Centre. This will mean continuous power supply during outages and will also provide community with a gathering point to charge devices, be kept up-to-date, heat food and access showers.
Wellington (1 project totalling $50,000)
- Woodside Community Hall received $50,000 to install a new solar, battery and generator system. This will enable the Hall to be a community resilience hub, providing power for cooking facilities, refrigeration and device charging during emergencies, severe weather events and outages.
Yarra Ranges (1 project totalling $28,443)
- Selby Family Clinic received $28,443 for a back-up battery system which will enable continuous power at the two buildings occupied by Selby Family Clinic. The Clinic provides services to over 4,500 people, including the most vulnerable in the community.
The second and final round of Major Grants is now open with stage one (initial proposal) closing in late January 2026. Round four Energy Resilience and Energy Education and Literacy Grants will open in late February 2026.
Through the Energy Resilience Community Fund, AusNet has supported the creation of over 50 community resilience hubs, with almost 20 now operational and ready for community use in future emergency and weather events.