Yarra Ranges Council has completed a major resilience project, strengthening emergency preparedness and future-proofing 21 key community facilities across the region.
Over the past three years, we’ve delivered vital upgrades to ensure our community spaces can stay open and operational during extreme weather events and power outages.
What’s been installed?
Solar panels and battery systems
Generator plug-in points
LED lighting upgrades
Improved heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC)
Three mobile generators for flexible backup power
With these improvements, local halls, pavilions, and community centres can now serve as emergency hubs—providing power, lighting, and a safe place to gather when it matters most.
To make sure these upgrades are easy to use when needed, Council is working with local sporting clubs and Community Centre Committees to create an operations manual. This guide will offer step-by-step instructions for managing solar and battery systems, and other critical resources.
Project Highlights
Monbulk Microgrid – A first for the region, connecting Monbulk Sporting Pavilion and Monbulk Living and Learning Centre to share solar and battery power when the grid fails.
Healesville Resilience Hub – Enhanced backup power at Healesville Library and The Link supports more services during outages.
21 community buildings upgraded – All with generator plug-in points, doubling the number of sites with access to backup power.
Three mobile generators – Ready to be deployed where needed most during outages.
Key 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. These sites can now operate as emergency hub if needed.
Key Upgrades at Yarra Centre and Sporting Pavilions
As part of the Resilient Energy Precinct project, we’ve upgraded the battery system at the Yarra Centre in Yarra Junction and installed a solar and battery system at the Olinda Sporting Pavilion.
Similar enhancements at Healesville and Yarra Glen Memo include window glazing, improved insulation, LED lighting and more.
These enhancements boost energy efficiency and ensure these community spaces are ready to support residents during emergencies.
Upgrades will also be made to the Monbulk Sporting Pavilion and the Monbulk Living and Learning Centre, which will be set up as a combined microgrid, enabling them to share power and operate independently of the power grid during power outages.
