Council facilities upgraded with new cabling for connection to portable generators in times of disaster

Six of Council’s facilities were upgraded with cabling to allow portable trailer-mounted generators to be connected to buildings during significant emergencies.

Key sites at Avenel, Euroa, Longwood, Nagambie and Violet Town were fitted out with the cabling as a result of funding received from the Risk and Resilience Grant Program.

Strathbogie Shire Council Mayor Cr Laura Binks said the upgrades would ensure these facilities could be utilised as Emergency Relief Centres (ERCs) in a disaster situation with access to power, enabling essential relief services to operate.

“ERCs locations can vary, and their location is determined by a number of factors during an emergency,” Cr Binks said.

“It is important Council has a number of potential sites identified that can be set up as ERCs at short notice.

“It was only just last year when Council opened an Emergency Relief Centre to the public during the October flood event.

“This was a perfect example of how quickly our community can be subjected to an emergency situation and the real need for ERCs during these times.”

Cr Binks explained what ERCs were and how the centres supported the community in emergencies.

“In the event of an emergency that significantly impacts the community, relief centres will be set up to assist people who have been displaced or need assistance,” she said.

“An ERC is a place that provides information about the emergency and the support and referrals available to help a community cope with the impact of the emergency.

“An ERC is not a refuge or recovery centre, rather, it is a place where affected individuals can go to get emergency information, reconnect with their community, register their details, and access relief support services to assist with their immediate needs.”