The Hurstbridge Community Hub will soon be equipped with a modern, sustainable energy system as the Hurstbridge Hub Energy Resilience Project nears completion.
The project, supported by a $265,000 grant through AusNet's Energy Resilience Community Fund Major Grants, will upgrade the Hub's electrical infrastructure, including:
- installation of additional rooftop solar
- battery storage
- a back-up generator
- public electric vehicle charging facilities
- replacing gas with all-electric appliances
- a new main switchboard arrangement.
The Hub's new energy system will help maintain essential services during power outages, increase the use of renewable energy, support future growth and provide public EV charging infrastructure for the community.
Mayor Naomi Joiner said the project was a significant investment in community resilience and sustainability.
"The Hurstbridge Community Hub is an important gathering place for our community, so it's essential that it can continue operating during power disruptions and meet the needs of the future," Cr Joiner said.
"These upgrades strengthen the Hub's energy security while reducing emissions and increasing our use of renewable energy.
"These additions demonstrate Council's commitment to practical climate action while delivering lasting benefits for the Hurstbridge community."
The project supports Council's broader commitment to reducing emissions, improving energy resilience and preparing community facilities for a low-carbon future.
Once complete, the Hurstbridge Community Hub will serve as a Nillumbik community energy resilience centre, along with Wadambuk St Andrews Community Centre and the Hurstbridge Football and Cricket Pavillion.
We also have an emergency resilience battery at the Diamond Creek Community Bank Stadium that can back up power supply when it's operating as an emergency relief centre.
Energy resilience in Nillumbik
The Hurstbridge Community Hub is the latest facility in Nillumbik to be equipped for energy resilience.
- Thanks to a project completed in June this year, Hurstbridge Football and Cricket Pavilion has a new solar and battery system that can provide up to 48 hours of back-up power.
- Since 2019, a solar and battery system at Community Bank Stadium in Diamond Creek, part-funded by Council, has been powering community resilience, enabling the facility to act as an emergency relief centre in the event of grid failure or disconnection. In 2020, this project won a national climate innovation award.
- In 2024, Council facilitated the delivery of an energy resilience project at Wadambuk St Andrews Community Centre, funded by DEECA and designed by AusNet. It includes additional solar, battery storage and back-up generator that enable the facility to operate during grid outages.
- In 2025, Council upgraded the battery storage for the off-grid power system at Peter Avola Pavilion in Strathewen to improve energy security for local users of the pavilion.
- We've successfully piloted using Council's electric vehicles to supply remote power and are exploring ways to roll this program out more widely.
