Albanese Govt puts up half of $4.2m towards Geraldton Airport power supply grid for disaster-proof future

A $4.2 million investment will establish a microgrid at Geraldton Airport, helping in a bid to eventually see the facility be entirely run off renewable energy. The grant was included in round one of funding from the Commonwealth’s Disaster Relief Fund initiative, which will provide up to $1 billion over the next five years. In the first round, WA will receive $18m in combined investment into disaster prevention, through Federal, State and delivery partner co-contributions, of which $6m combined will go towards Geraldton Airport and Nabawa Recreational Centre. Funding was secured through State and Territory Government applications for a range of projects to improve mitigation and resilience, in collaboration with local councils and community groups. The Geraldton Airport will begin a makeover of their power grid to ensure continuous power supply in critical emergencies such as 2021’s cyclone Seroja. Of the $4.2m, $2m was awarded by the Commonwealth, while $2.2 m was contributed by a State project delivery partner. City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the City had been planning for the airport to eventually run off the grid and were waiting for the right grant scheme to submit their designs. “This will help the City in achieving our net zero target by 2030, allowing the airport microgrid to run entirely off renewable energy,” he said. “The City had indicative pricing and designs after working on plans for a number of years, and we were very happy to be able to apply for the grant.” Nabawa Recreation Centre facility redevelopment will receive $1.8m, half of which is Commonwealth funds and the remaining $900,000 is a co-contribution from a State delivery partner. The facility will be renovated to to better protect surrounding communities during bushfires, floods and other emergencies. WA Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said Commonwealth funding provided a vital boost for many exciting and innovative projects. Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said West Australians were no strangers to natural disasters, and governments at all levels needed to take decisive action to better protect communities. “This is about more than just bricks and mortar. We are changing the way Australia deals with natural disasters by planning better for the future to ensure that communities all around the country are better prepared, less exposed and in the best possible position to recover when disasters strike,” he said. The Federal Government estimates for every dollar spent on disaster risk reduction, there is a $9.60 return on investment.