Tony Smith (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We all know the benefits of solar panels, backed by batteries, in reducing power bills and emissions. But I want to talk about another benefit, in the Casey electorate, where federal funding has committed to three solar resilient recovery centres. In times of storms, when there are power outages, which are quite regular in the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges, it is very difficult to find a place where you can access power. I was pleased, at the last election, to pledge the funds to provide battery backup for the Healesville Memorial Hall, the funds to install solar panels and batteries at the Yarra Glen Memorial Hall and the funds to install the battery to link with the solar at the Yarra Centre in Yarra Junction. These places are now fully solar resilient recovery centres. They're places where people in need can go to recharge their phones, to have a meal and to use the facilities that are there, from the battery backup, for that short period of time that the power might be off. I wanted to raise that today in the House for the wider benefits that are there, and I'd like to see that extension happen in many communities that are similarly affected when the power goes off.