Thousands of Victorians living in residential care facilities now have the protection of a continuous backup electricity supply to keep lifesaving medical equipment running during a power failure or emergency.
The Andrews Labor Government has finished installing diesel generators in 52 residential care facilities across Victoria under stage 4A of the Local Infrastructure Assistance Fund, providing a back-up electricity supply to 2,900 residents who rely heavily on power for
their medical devices.
Generators have been installed in 12 Local Government Areas including Corangamite, Glenelg, Moyne, Warrnambool.
This includes Abbeyfield House Hostel in Mortlake, Cobden District Health Services (Lovely Banks & Heytesbury Lodge), May Noonan Memorial Hostel for the Aged in Terang, Sunnyside House in Camperdown, Seaview House in Portland along with Lyndoch Living Hostel, Lyndoch Nursing Home, Mercy Place, Opal Gillan Park and Opal in Warrnambool.
The generators take into account changes to powerline safety settings, which are made more sensitive on Total Fire Ban and Code Red days to reduce the risk of bushfires.
The generators will automatically kick in within seconds of a power fault, ensuring the power is always on, and without the need for facility staff intervention.
The Local Infrastructure Assistance Fund is a 10-year, $40 million program. The Fund is part of the Government’s $750 million Powerline Bushfire Safety Program that was developed in response to the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
Back-up generators have now been installed in 188 facilities across Victoria, protecting 9,500 vulnerable Victorians.
Applications to Stage 5 of the Fund are now open until the end of February 2016.
For further information visit www.energyandresources.vic.gov.au/powerlines.
Quote attributable to Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney MP
“Residents living in the south west now have the peace of mind that the lifesaving medical equipment they rely on will always have a backup power supply.”
“Installing these generators not only protects vulnerable Victorians in residential care,
it also provides business for local tradesmen and suppliers.”
“These generators will ensure critical medical equipment, air conditioning and security systems stay running during a power failure, protecting thousands of Victorians in
residential care facilities across the state.”