Local Infrastructure Assistance Fund

The Local Infrastructure Assistance Fund (LIAF) was a $40 million program designed to minimise the impact of power outages, arising from temporary changes made to the electricity network on days of high fire risk. These changes to the network settings on days of high fire risk are part of the Powerline Bushfire Safety Program (PBSP), and will reduce the likelihood of electricity distribution assets starting bushfires.

The $40 million LIAF was used to fund back-up diesel generators in residential care facilities throughout regional and rural Victoria including aged care, supported residential services, disability, mental health, and alcohol and drug rehabilitation facilities, where residents are critically reliant on power for their health and wellbeing. The PBSP is part of the Victorian Government's response to the findings of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission and the recommendations from the subsequent Powerline Bushfire Safety Taskforce.

On Total Fire Ban and Code Red days, 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, setting changes may increase the duration of local power outages in the event a fault occurs. The LIAF program funded back-up diesel generators in residential care facilities to minimise the impact to residents should power failure occur.

In Stage 1 and 2A of the program, eligible facilities in the LGAs of Greater Bendigo, Mitchell, Murrindindi, Horsham, were targeted. These LGAs were targeted based on the number of Total Fire Ban and Code Red days these LGAs experience each year and the impact of network setting changes on power reliability.

Stage 2B extended the program to facilities in the LGAs of Macedon Ranges, Pyrenees and Hepburn. These LGAs also experience a high number of Total Fire Ban and Code Red days and are impacted by network safety equipment charges.

Stage 2C opened the program to facilities in the LGAs of Loddon, Central Goldfields, Mount Alexander, Colac-Otway, Moorabool, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Yarra Ranges, Nillumbik, Cardinia, Whittlesea (town of Whittlesea only) and Ballarat.

Stage 3 opened the program to facilities in the LGAs of Alpine, Benalla, Indigo, Mansfield, Towong, Wangaratta, Wodonga, Baw Baw, Latrobe, South Gippsland and Wellington.

Stage 4A included facilities in the LGAs of East Gippsland, Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Moira, Strathbogie, Ararat, Corangamite, Glenelg, Moyne, Southern Grampians, Warrnambool and Greater Bendigo.

Stage 4 B and C also included disability facilities across the eligible 55 LGAs.

Stage 5 targeted facilities in the LGAs of Hindmarsh, Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack, Bass Coast, Mornington Peninsula, Buloke, Gannawarra, Mildura, Knox (partial: 3154 and 3156 postcodes only), Casey (partial: 3802, 3803, 3804 and 3805 postcodes only), Hume (partial 3429 postcode only) and Greater Geelong (partial 3221, 3222, 3223, 3224, 3225, 3226 and 3227 postcodes only).

Stage 6 was the final stage of the LIAF program and targeted facilities across all the eligible 55 LGAs.

No, metropolitan areas are not subject to network setting changes under the PBSP to mitigate bushfire risk, and therefore were not be eligible for LIAF grants.

No, individuals were not eligible for funding. The State Government undertook research to determine the best way to deliver the most effective program outcomes. It was decided funds should be directed where they can do the most good for the greatest number of Victorians reliant on a power supply for their health and wellbeing. For this reason, it was decided back-up diesel generators would be provided to residential care facilities that care for the aged, people with disability, mental illness, or for drug and alcohol rehabilitation services.

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