Council facilities in Claris will benefit from solar power system upgrades and repairs, thanks to $800,000 Fix and Finish funding allocated to Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board.
This work will future-proof reliable energy for the council service centre, library, local board office, and other associated buildings.
The project includes replacing aging batteries, expanding solar capacity, modernising cabling and storage, and implementing smart monitoring for efficiency.
“Getting the funding to carry out this micro-grid infrastructure upgrade is great news for the community,” says Shane Hogg, Hauraki Gulf Island Area Operations Manager for Auckland Council.
“The project will produce a sustainable and long-lasting solution for the only council service centre on the island.
“By taking advantage of current lows in solar technology costs, it also offers long-term savings while preventing costly emergency repairs.”
The upgrades will safeguard operations for key council departments such as emergency management, biosecurity, and transport, while enhancing resilience against climate and infrastructure risks.
Crucially, it prioritises emergency power for critical services like the medical centre vaccine fridge, x-ray machines, and the morgue, addressing the island's vulnerability as an off-grid community.
This upgrade is one of thirteen local board projects across Auckland and Manukau that will be fixed or finished as part of the $20 million Fix and Finish funding boost championed by Mayor Wayne Brown through his Mayoral Proposal.
Read more about these projects and the Fix and Finish Fund.
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