A national programme to enhance emergency preparedness and energy resilience in targeted communities is empowering parts of Marlborough.
The Community Renewable Energy Fund (CREF), administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority EECA, is providing solar panels and battery systems to ‘power up’ selected community buildings used during emergencies, disasters or severe weather events.
Council’s Small Townships is managing the delivery of the programme with EECA funding 80 per cent of the cost.
Small Townships Programme Sub-committee portfolio holder Councillor Brian Dawson said nine sites were chosen in Marlborough to receive the installations with EECA allocating $396,000 to the region.
“The systems being installed provide backup power during outages, improving the resilience of our communities. There is also a great added benefit for communities of a reduction in day-to-day electricity costs.
“EECA and Marlborough Emergency Management worked together to identify sites in our region that would benefit from this investment. These include both Council-owned and community-owned facilities,” Clr Dawson said.
The sites are Flaxbourne Community Hall, Havelock Town Hall, Linkwater Memorial Community Hall, Endeavour Park Pavilion in Picton, Okiwi Bay Community Centre, Rai Valley School, Renwick Community Hall, Stadium 2000 and Ukaipō (Rangitāne Cultural Centre).
For Council-owned sites, Council is funding the remaining 20 per cent through existing budgets. For community-owned sites, the 20 per cent contribution has been funded by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) Recovery and Readiness Fund.
Three installations are now complete with the remainder are due to be finished by February 2027.
