By Emma Xerri
After the February storms left more than 530,000 electricity customers without power at its peak, the Monbulk community is now better equipped to withstand severe power outages, with the Monbulk RSL setup to function as an energy resilience hub.
As one of 24 towns identified as being at high-risk of outages due to ongoing extreme weather, the Monbulk RSL’s power up comes as part of the Allan Government’s $7.5 million Energy Resilience Solutions (ERS) program, which funds solar panels, batteries and back-up generators.
“We’re bolstering electricity resilience to protect vulnerable communities against outages caused by extreme weather – and making sure that if outages do occur, locals can rely on a safe, connected community space,” Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said.
With the addition of these much-needed energy supplies, the RSL will provide a space for storm and outage impacted residents to cook meals, charge devices and access information during an extended power outage.
“Weather events like the February 2024 storms are becoming more intense and frequent, so it’s critical for the Monbulk community that our electricity distribution system is equipped to support people when outages occur and that Victorians are reconnected as quickly as possible,” Member for Monbulk Daniela De Martino said.
“This ERS will keep the lights on, the phones charged and the kettle boiled at the RSL in the event of a power outage.
“With solar panels, batteries for storage and the generator already on site as a backup, the Monbulk RSL is now one of the most power resilient buildings across the hills.
“I would like to express my thanks to DEECA, Yarra Ranges Council, AusNet and Monbulk RSL for the work that went into making this happen.
“Our community will be all the more prepared for it.”
The ERS rollout serves as the first step in providing energy resilience to Victoria’s high-risk towns, which the government hopes to facilitate even further by introducing obligations for energy companies to create five-yearly Network Resilience Plans.
These plans require them to plan and invest in improving the resilience of their networks, particularly those at high risk of prolonged outages caused by extreme weather.
An independent Network Outage Review commissioned by the Government is also being undertaken.
The Network Outage Review’s expert panel will make recommendations on the operational response of energy businesses, including contingency planning, timely and effective management of the incident, and restoration of supply following the storm event.
Feedback from their community engagement with Monbulk, Emerald, Gembrook and Cockatoo at the start of May has not yet been published.
