Yarra Ranges Council has been working community members in Steels Creek to enhance resilience in the face of power outages and weather related disasters.
The Steels Creek community centre has been upgraded with 7.36kW (Kilowatt) solar panels, a 22kWh (Kilowatt-hour) battery system and a generator plug-in point enabling it to serve as an emergency hub during times of need.
This project is part of the Preparing Australian Communities initiative and the Resilient Buildings Project, which focuses on installing solar panels, batteries, LED lighting, and generator plug-ins at key locations across the region.
With this upgrade, the centre is now equipped to provide essential services during power outages, such as access to toilets , a functional kitchen, and device charging.
Yarra Ranges Council Mayor, Jim Child, underscored the importance of such facilities in areas of higher risk.
"If the energy grid goes down, centres like these will remain operational for the community. They're already serving the community in times of need, and this upgrade enhances their role and ability to provide support," Cr Child said.
For Maree Cooper, vice president Steels Creek Community Centre Committee, the upgrade holds significant value for local residents who have experienced power disruptions and bushfire events in the past.
"The initial benefit is reducing or eliminating electricity bills and thus improving the Community Centre's financial position. In the longer term we are also hoping to make the Centre a Hub during emergencies and situations such as prolonged power outages. Our community relies on tank water and thus electricity to have running water for toilets and food preparation. "
"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," she said.
The goal of the Resilient Buildings Project is to establish resilience centres in regions vulnerable to weather related disasters and power outages, ensuring that local hubs are prepared and capable of supporting the community during times of crisis.
