The Local Infrastructure Assistance Fund (LIAF) allocated $40 million to fund back-up diesel generators in residential care facilities across peri-urban, regional and rural Victoria.

Eligible residential care facilities included:

  • aged care
  • supported residential services
  • disability
  • mental health;
  • and drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities.

Generator

LIAF has helped to minimise the impact of power outages, arising from temporary changes made to the electricity network on days of high fire risk. This is particularly important for care facilities where residents are critically reliant on power for their health and wellbeing.

The project was completed in 2016 and was available to both non-government owned and Government owned residential care facilities. It covered the costs of purchasing and installing a back-up diesel generator fit for their needs. LIAF has:

  • Provided back-up generators in 343 facilities
  • Protected 15,937 vulnerable Victorians who reside in the facilities

Q&As

What is the Local Infrastructure Assistance Fund (LIAF)?

LIAF provided $40 million for back-up generators to be installed in residential care facilities throughout rural and regional Victoria. It was designed to reduce the impact of power outages on vulnerable members of the community, especially on days of high fire risk.

How do ACR setting changes impact on residential facilities?

On Total Fire Ban and Code Red days, Automatic Circuit Reclosers (ACRs) on powerlines in areas of highest bushfire risk are adjusted to minimise the risk of a fire starting after a fault. While these safety measures have a clear and significant benefit for the broader Victorian community, ACR setting changes may increase the duration of local power outages in the event a fault occurs.

LIAF funded back-up diesel generators in residential care facilities to minimise the impact to residents should power failure occur.

Where was the Fund made available?

The Fund was delivered to a total of 343 residential care facilities that met the eligibility criteria across peri-urban, regional and rural Victoria. It was made available to Local Government Areas (LGAs) subject to network setting changes under the PBSP to mitigate bushfire risk, therefore no metropolitan areas were eligible for the LIAF grant.

The 52 LGAs targeted were based on the number of Total Fire Ban and Code Red days experienced each year and the impact of network setting changes on power reliability. This included:

Alpine

East Gippsland

Macedon Ranges

Shepparton

Ararat

Gannawarra

Mansfield

Strathbogie

Ballarat

Casey

Mornington Peninsula

South Gippsland

Bass Coast

Geelong

Mount Alexander

Southern Grampians

Baw Baw

Glenelg

Mildura

Surf Coast

Bendigo

Golden Plains

Mitchell

Towong

Benalla

Hepburn

Moorabool

Wangaratta

Buloke

Hindmarsh

Moyne

Warrnambool

Campaspe

Horsham

Moira

Wellington

Cardinia

Indigo

Murrindindi

West Wimmera

Central Goldfields

Knox

Nillumbik

Wodonga

Colac-Otway

Latrobe

Northern Grampians

Whittlesea

Corangamite

Loddon

Pyrenees

Yarra Ranges

Were local businesses involved in supplying and installing generators?

Yes, local electricians and generator supply businesses were involved in selling and installing LIAF generators.

Page last updated: 03/08/20