Funding secured to help reduce energy costs at Yarra Ranges' Monbulk Aquatic Centre

Yarra Ranges Council, located in the outer eastern and northeastern suburbs of Melbourne, has secured a grant of $1.9 million via the Australian Government’s Community Energy Upgrades Fund to transition the Monbulk Aquatic Centre away from gas.

Council matched the $1.9 million federal funding, dollar-for-dollar with the upgrades to the Monbulk Aquatic Centre being part of an electrification project.

The Monbulk Aquatic Centre Electrification Project will replace gas equipment with electric equivalents, make thermal improvement works, renew heating and ventilation air conditioning units and install batteries to make the most of their solar energy.

Yarra Ranges Mayor, Jim Child, said the project would align with Council’s work on its Liveable Climate Plan, to hit net zero emissions by 2040 and 100% renewable energy use by 2030. 

Mayor Child noted “our aquatic facilities are some of the most beloved places in our community; the Monbulk Aquatic Centre sees more than 118,000 visits per year. Each of those someone learning to swim, developing their skills or having fun with their family or friends.

“The simple fact of the matter is that gas costs us incredible amounts. We’ve historically spent more than $400,000 a year to heat pools – a number that we’ve reduced to $150,000. However, the cost of gas has doubled. The environmental impact, and the ongoing increasing cost, impacts the work that we do and constrains our budget.

“It makes sense to reduce our reliance on gas, to leverage our fantastic work on renewable energy and to do what we can to reduce costs while living lighter on the earth.

“The added benefit of these works is that the aquatics centre will be more resilient for users and staff in the event of power outages, meaning people can safely finish up using the pool with power continuity and leave the site if mains power drops out.

“I’d like to sincerely thank the Australian Government for their investment in this project through the Community Energy Upgrades Fund.”

The project is expected to get underway in April 2025, with works to temporarily close the pool in 2026. Pool users and groups will be updated as works are scheduled and conducted.

Image. Monbulk Aquatic Centre Credit: Yarra Ranges Council