PowerMaD Project
PowerMaD Stage 1
In 2019, the Deans Marsh and District community developed the Marsh and District Community Action Plan (MaDCAP) that outlines the community’s vision, values and key actions. This plan includes a number of climate change mitigation and adaptation actions, one of which is “to become 100% off grid, independent and self-reliant using renewable energy sources.”
To assist this action, in 2023 Surf Coast Shire (Council) and Deans Marsh Community Cottage secured grant funding for PowerMaD: a project to identify practical ways to achieve the renewable energy objectives of the Deans Marsh and District community. The project appointed two experts: one in community engagement; the other in renewable energy systems. The consultants worked closely with community members – and each other – to review and refine the community’s renewable energy objectives and develop a pathway to achieve them.
The end product is a renewable energy action plan that identifies in detail the steps Deans Marsh and District community members can take to achieve their objectives. All Marsh and District community members were encouraged to be involved in the project.
Funding for the project comes from the Victorian Government’s New Energy Jobs Fund and Council, with in-kind support from Council and Deans Marsh Community Cottage.
View the PowerMaD Community Engagement Plan Here
For further information please contact Deans Marsh Community Cottage on [email protected] or Adrian Ford (Climate Action Officer, Surf Coast Shire) on [email protected]
PowerMaD – Stage 2
Stage 2 of the PowerMaD Project is The Deans Marsh Energy Audits Program.
This is an initiative of Deans Marsh Community Cottage delivered by Geelong Sustainability with funding from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, supported by the Surf Coast Shire.
The aim of the program is to provide residents of Deans Marsh with expert advice on how to improve the energy efficiency of their homes in order to reduce their energy consumption and emissions. And to gain a collective understanding of energy usage within our Community.
Read More on PowerMaD Stage 2 Here
STAGE 1 PROCESS & RESOURCES
MARCH 2023
Introduction
Thursday 2 March 2023, 6pm – 8pm, Deans Marsh Community Hall
The PowerMaD project was introduced at a meeting of the Deans Marsh Community Action Network.
Resources from introduction: PowerMaD Introduction Slides
APRIL 2023
Working Group Meeting #1
Tuesday 11 April 2023, 6pm – 7pm, Deans Marsh Community Hall
Adrian Ford (Climate Action Officer, Surf Coast Shire) met with interested community members to outline the project, discuss the Working Group’s terms of reference and the process for engaging consultants.
Resources from Meeting #1
Draft Terms of Reference for the PowerMaD Working Group
Minutes of PowerMaD Working Group Meeting 11 Apr 2023
MAY 2023
Working Group Meeting #2
Tuesday, 9 May 2023, 6pm – 7pm at the Deans Marsh Community Hall
Adrian Ford (Climate Action Officer, Surf Coast Shire) will meet with interested communiPowerMaD Renewable Action Plan Final v10ty members to adopt Terms of Reference for the PowerMad Working Group, appoint Working Group members, and discuss quotes received from community engagement and renewable energy consultants.
Resources from Meeting #2
Minutes 9 May 2023_PoweMad Project
JUNE 2023
Working Group Meeting #3
Wednesday 21 June 2023, 6pm – 7pm, Online via Zoom
JULY 2023
Working Group Meeting #3
Thursday 13 July 2023, 6pm – 7pm at the Deans Marsh Community Hall
Adrian Ford (Climate Action Officer, Surf Coast Shire) to meet with working group to distribute Project Leaflet, look at goals for the community workshop and survey.
COMMUNITY WORKSHOP #1 & SURVEY
To identify in detail the renewable energy aims and objectives of the Deans Marsh & District community.
View the PowerMaD Community Leaflet, Workshop Invitation & Survey Link Here
COMMUNITY GOALS OUTCOME
PowerMaD Goals Principles Report FINAL
AUGUST – OCTOBER 2023
Renewable Energy Options Paper
Informed by Workshop #1, a renewable energy options paper will set out different ways the Deans Marsh & District community can achieve its renewable energy aims and objectives.
Working Group Meeting – Minutes 14 Sep 2023
Working Group Meeting – Minutes 12 Oct 2023
COMMUNITY WORKSHOP #2 – RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS PAPER
Sunday 22 October
10am – 12pm
Deans Marsh Community Hall
RSVP HERE
Informed by the Renewable Energy Options Paper, Workshop #2 will identify the ways most preferred by community members to achieve the aims and objectives identified in Workshop #1.
Resources for Workshop #2
PowerMaD Options Paper – Overview
A 5 Page Overview
PowerMaD Options Paper – Detailed Appendices
A much more detailed document
PowerMaD Workshop 2 _ Slide Deck Presentation_ Enhar
The Slide Deck – A more visual and comparative summary of the key information and will be used as the basis of Enhar’s presentation at the workshop.
RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS PAPER – COMMUNITY SURVEY
The options survey will be online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/
The survey will open on 24 October and close at 9am on 8 November 2023.
NOVEMBER 2023
Working Group Meeting – Minutes 17 Nov 2023
DECEMBER 2023
Working Group Meeting – Minutes 14 Dec 2023
RENEWABLE ENERGY ACTION PLAN
Community input gathered via the workshop and survey will help the project’s renewable energy consultant, Enhar, to finliased the renewable energy action plan that will identify in detail the steps Deans Marsh and District community members can take to achieve their goals.
RENEWABLE ACTION PLAN FINAL
PowerMaD Renewable Action Plan Final v10
Online Resources
Set out below are online resources that may assist community members in the process of developing a developing a renewable energy action plan for the Deans Marsh & District.
Community members, project consultants and council officers may add to these resources by emailing details to [email protected]
Examples of initiatives from other communities
Hepburn Energy: https://www.hepburnenergy.coop/
Hepburn ZNET: https://hepburnznet.org.au/
Renewable Newstead: https://renewablenewstead.com.au/
Southern Otways Sustainable (SOS): https://www.southernotwayssustainable.com.au/
Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY): https://totallyrenewableyack.org.au/
Community energy networks and knowledge hubs
Barwon Region Alliance for Community Energy (BRACE): http://brace.members.tilda.ws/
Coalition for Community Energy (C4CE): https://c4ce.net.au/
C4CE Knowledge Hub: https://c4ce.org.au/
Household food and energy
Joost Bakker: https://www.futurefoodsystem.com/
Energy Tips (Geelong Sustainability): https://energytips.org.au/
Saul Griffith – Australian-American Inventor and Renewable Electricity Advocate
Australian Story:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-27/the-transformer-saul-griffith/102029812
ABC News: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-27/saul-griffith-plan-to-rewire-australia/101762960
Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSsKop_sdQY
The Australian Institute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s_78L0lvLk
Quarterly Essay: https://www.quarterlyessay.com.au/essay/2023/03/the-wires-that-bind
NSW Electrify Project
About: https://www.rewiringaustralia.org/about
Reports: https://www.rewiringaustralia.org/reports