Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced the grant, which forms part of the government’s $3.4 million Local Government Energy Saver Program, at the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre.

The audit will assess the emissions profile of council-owned buildings and seek opportunities to reduce energy emissions and operating costs.

This will assist the council to build a case for an additional $100,000 grant to implement the priority recommendations that come out of the audit. 

Four key council buildings will be audited – the Ararat Library, the Ararat Fitness and Leisure Centre, the municipal offices and the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre. 

Ararat mayor Councillor Gwenda Allgood said that if council is successful and moves onto the next stage of funding, council stood to save money being drained on inefficient operating costs.

“One of the things we’re very conscious of is that these are the buildings that do actually drain a lot of the money out of council in that we’re not using the energy in the best possible way ... we need to bring those costs down,” she said.

Currently the municipal buildings on High Street have only got two small solar panels, and Councillor Allgood said this was a chance to “play catch-up” on dealing with its own renewable energy emissions.

“We’re very conscious of saving energy in Ararat and this is another step,” she said.

“I think we’re going to have some excellent results. It’s really exciting to know that we can save energy and save money.” 

Ms D’Ambrosio said the state government will work with the council to help it build a case for further funding. 

“Sustainability Victoria is working with the council to assist it in undertaking the professional auditing, then developing up a business case which will then identify the priority projects that will give it the best outcomes in terms of reduced energy consumption, and greater energy efficiency across these four iconic buildings,” she said.

Ms D’Ambrosio said community members stand to gain from the program as well. 

“When (council) reduces costs it frees up dollars that it can re-invest back into the community with the services it can provide and the community expect,” she said.

Labor candidate for Ripon Sarah De Santis agreed. 

“(Councils) in rural and regional areas really struggle with managing their budgets. This will go a long way towards helping councils reduce the overwhelming costs of energy and all of those funds can then be rediverted to day to day programs they have to run to service the community,” she said.

Ms De Santis also said the recently released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report made programs like this even more vital. 

“We’ve just had a recent report delivered that has stated that we need to really get a move on in terms of our renewable energy targets, and we need to transition the way that we use, create and store energy,” she said.

Twenty-two councils across the state are taking part in the program and conducting audits on their buildings.