Twenty councils across Queensland and Western Australia will share in over $9 million in federal funding to finance a variety of community energy upgrades under the second round of the government’s $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund.
The federal government has over the last few weeks been drip-feeding announcements revealing recipients of the latest round of its Community Energy Upgrades Fund, which will see a total of 66 local governments across Australia share in $50 million in grants to fund energy efficiency and electrification upgrades at local community facilities.
Announced in the middle of the month, 23 councils across New South Wales were announced as sharing in $21 million, while the ten councils awarded over $8 million in funding in Victoria were revealed a week later.
Western Australia’s announcement was hurried out the door at the close of last week, with 8 local governments to share in more than $5 million, while Queensland’s 12 winning local councils were announced on Tuesday as sharing in $4.3 million.
All the winning local councils can be viewed in full below, but a few highlights from both state’s include a grant of $946,938 for the WA Shire of Esperance which will be used to finance the installation of solar panels and batteries on 16 Shire buildings, tinting the windows of five others, and improving two community evacuation centres.
A larger $1.2 million grant will go to the City of Bunbury to upgrade the South West Sports Centre’s (SWSC) energy systems, including the replacing of gas hot water boilers with electric heat pumps, installation of a 266-kilowatt (kW) solar system, and refurbishing the existing solar thermal system.
“We are investing in a cheaper, cleaner energy future for every Australian,” said Josh Wilson, assistant federal minister for climate change and energy.
“This program will see benefits for public facilities like local swimming pools where gas boilers will be replaced with electric alternatives to reduce energy use, cut emissions, and help local governments reduce their running costs.”
“From the Great Southern to our South West coast, and across the Wheatbelt and metropolitan Perth, the Albanese Government is backing Councils and Shires that are getting on with the job of reducing emissions by upgrading public facilities to run on the cleanest and cheapest energy.”
In Queensland, a $1.1 million grant will help Toowoomba’s Milne Bay Aquatic and Fitness Centre replace its gas-fired heating systems with high-efficiency electric heat pumps, which will in turn be supported by an energy system redesign and rooftop solar PV system.
A $1 million grant will help the Noosa Shire Council upgrade its solar and battery installations and install a behind-the-meter solar and battery system at the Resource Recovery Centre. While a $300,000 grant will fund Cook Shire Council’s plan to install solar systems at two of its community facilities – the Cooktown Events Centre and Bloomfield Hall.
Full Western Australia funding list
| Applicant details | Project title | Grant amount ($) |
| Shire of Harvey | Harvey Works Depot and Leschenault Leisure Centre solar PV and battery energy storage upgrades | 251,500 |
| City of Bunbury | Bunbury South West Sports Centre Electrification, Renewables and Efficiency Project | 1,201,814 |
| Shire of Narrogin | Narrogin Regional Leisure Centre Aquatic Facility Electrification | 535,358 |
| City of Canning | Community Facility Renewable Energy and Storage Pilot | 1,089,209 |
| Shire of Mundaring | Bilgoman Aquatic Centre Energy Efficiency Upgrade | 158,542 |
| City of Busselton | Undalup Rooftop Solar and Battery Storage energy Upgrades | 708,439 |
| Shire of Esperance | Esperance Community Energy Efficiency and Renewables Program | 946,938 |
| City of Kwinana | Reducing Kwinana’s emissions using solar and energy storage | 566,602 |
Full Queensland funding list
| Council | Project Details | Grant amount ($) |
| Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council | Empower Yarrabah Microgrid – Commercial Solar Phase
This project will replace aged solar systems on key Council-owned buildings in Yarrabah with modern, high-efficiency systems designed to offset around 40% of each site’s annual energy use, cutting energy costs. |
425,000 |
| Bulloo Shire Council | Bulloo Shire Solar and Energy Automation Initiative The council will install behind-the-meter rooftop solar systems at three local government sites including the SES/Fire Brigade Shed, reducing energy costs for the Council by increasing renewable energy uptake. By integrating automated timers and smart controls, Council will take full advantage of free solar power during the day. |
25,551 |
| Burke Shire Council | Burketown Solar Upgrade – Water and Sewerage Treatment Plants
The council will install solar panels and battery storage, estimated to cut their electricity costs by almost 50%. |
84,331 |
| Cloncurry Shire Council | Cloncurry Solar Power Project
The Shire will install two solar systems at the Community Precinct Building and Cloncurry Airport, delivering more than $17,000 in savings every year. |
85,600 |
| Cook Shire Council | Energy Efficiency and Resilience Upgrades for Cook Shire
The Council will install two solar systems at community facilities – Cooktown Events Centre and Bloomfield Hall to reduce emissions and electricity costs, while improving resilience following natural disasters. |
306,078 |
| Flinders Shire Council | Green Energy Flinders
The Council will install solar systems across seven facilities, including the Hughenden Centre for the Aged, cutting annual energy costs by $100,000. |
257,027 |
| Noosa Shire Council | Noosa Shire energy resilience and renewable transition upgrades
The Council will upgrade solar and battery installations and install a ‘behind the meter’ solar and battery system at the Resource Recovery Centre, enabling them to save an estimated $50,000 per year. |
1,027,367 |
| Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council | Back to the Grid Solar installation on council residential properties.
Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council will install solar panels on council residential properties, reducing costs while feeding excess energy back into the grid, reducing impact on Traditional land. |
256,735 |
| Quilpie Shire Council | Quilpie Community Energy Upgrade Project
Quilpie Shire Council will install smart solar systems at three council buildings including Quilpie pool, taking advantage of free solar power to power lights and hot water at peak times. |
77,081 |
| South Burnett Regional Council | South Burnett Community Energy Upgrade Project
The council will install solar panels at six council-owned sites and deliver efficiency upgrades, reducing their emissions and cutting their power bills every year. |
243,726 |
| Toowoomba Regional Council | Milne Bay Aquatic and Fitness Centre Electrification Project
This grant will enable the council to replace existing gas heating systems with electric heat pumps, supported by a rooftop solar system, making the use of solar power during the day and cutting council energy bills for good. |
1,083,907 |
| Torres Shire Council | Diesel to Daylight: Torres Shire Council’s Clean Energy Transition
Torres Shire Council will install solar energy systems on three high-use Council facilities: the Thursday Island Works Depot, the Thursday Island Sports Stadium, and the Horn Island Sports Stadium cutting bills for good, improving resilience and cutting emissions. |
447,331 |
