01/04/2025
The Poowong Public Hall Inc along with the Poowong Football & Netball Club made a joint application for the AusNet Energy Resilience grant for their buildings to act as a hub for their local community during a severe weather event or prolonged power outage. The successful grant was for $ 49,950.00 which required no matching funding.
This has enabled the following:
1 The Hall has a new 15 kW solar system and 24 kW back up battery to service the hall/supper room.
2. The PFNC Clubrooms has a 45-kW diesel generator to operate all the buildings & grounds
Note- this back up power is only for extended emergency power outages- it is not for half day interruptions of power or where AusNet has given notice of proposed maintenance works. It is for emergency prolonged outages where people can come and charge a phone, have a cuppa, prepare a meal etc. For the hall, the backup will only be in the Supper Room where heating/cooling, TV, urns etc exist, likewise similar options exist in the clubrooms. The executives of both committees have met and agreed that it will not be operating 24/7 nor will they offer accommodation but serve the community during the day. The precise details are yet to be finalised.
Some have commented on why the Sports Centre was not included- it simply did not meet the selection criteria- ie small meeting room involving stairs [key component was access for all age groups in particular the elderly and very young], lack of meal preparation area , Lack of tables & chairs, women’s toilets upstairs and the court doesn’t match the grant criteria nor is conducive for non-sport events.
We are extremely fortunate to have received this AusNet grant to help the community get through future extended power outages. Furthermore PCCC is in the process of applying for a grant to set up Starlink- the lack of ‘phone services was a major problem many experienced with the last power outage- if successful then it makes our community well prepared for extended power outages.
For further information – email [email protected]
or ‘phone Jim Forbes 0418561807
