$1.6M win for sustainable community infrastructure.

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Publication date: March 4, 2026.

Status note: Present-tense statements, market figures, deadlines and program details in the archived record belong to its publication date. Check current official sources before making a decision.

What this article reported

We're proud to announce that Northmore Gordon supported the City of Onkaparinga in successfully securing $1,601,850 in Round 2 of the Australian Government's Community Energy Upgrades Fund for the Noarlunga Aquatic Recreation Centre Electrification Project.

This grant forms part of the broader $10M+ upgrade to the iconic community facility, aimed at delivering long-term energy efficiency, emissions reduction and operational savings.

Northmore Gordon's role in the success:

- Provided a technical review of electrification options and delivered recommendations on a decarbonisation pathway
- Compiled a list of projects with outcomes aligned to Community Energy Upgrades Fund objectives (quantifying GHG reduction, energy savings, public benefit)
- Collaborated with council to translate technical detail into a compelling, fundable grant application
- Ensured the proposed solution stacked funding pathways with asset renewal plans

The project will switch pool and space heating systems from gas to efficient electric heat pumps, contributing to significant emissions reductions and energy savings while improving resilience and comfort for the community.

Why it matters:

- Community infrastructure plays a key role in achieving decarbonisation targets
- Strategic electrification reduces energy costs and eliminates gas reliance
- Strong partnerships turn technical complexity into funded outcomes

Want to electrify your community assets and win federal funding? Speak with a Northmore Gordon senior advisor today and get direct access to real expertise.

How to use this information now

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What was the significance of Northmore Gordon's support for the City of Onkaparinga's grant application?

We helped secure $1,601,850 in Round 2 Community Energy Upgrades Fund grant for the Noarlunga Aquatic Recreation Centre Electrification Project. Our role extended beyond technical assessment to translating complex electrification analysis into a compelling, fundable application. By aligning the proposed heat pump conversion with fund objectives—quantifying greenhouse gas reduction, energy savings, and public benefit—and stacking this pathway with the council's asset renewal plans, we demonstrated how technical expertise and strategic funding navigation deliver outcomes for community infrastructure.

How does the Noarlunga project illustrate Northmore Gordon's approach to decarbonisation strategy?

The project exemplifies our six-stage delivery approach: assessing the facility's current performance, building a case for electrification viability, identifying funding pathways, delivering implementation, and securing ongoing performance outcomes. By switching pool and space heating from gas to efficient electric heat pumps, the centre reduces emissions and energy costs while improving operational resilience. This integration of technical assessment, commercial decision-making, and funding strategy reflects our stated methodology for connecting engineering analysis with real-world project outcomes in the built environment.

What role does strategic electrification play in community infrastructure decarbonisation?

Strategic electrification of community assets addresses multiple objectives simultaneously: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering operating energy costs, and eliminating gas reliance to improve infrastructure resilience. At Noarlunga, replacing gas heating with efficient heat pumps delivers long-term operational savings while supporting broader decarbonisation targets. The project demonstrates that when technical electrification feasibility is aligned with funding programmes and asset renewal cycles, community infrastructure can become both more sustainable and more cost-effective. This combination of environmental and economic benefits strengthens the business case for similar projects.

How should organizations approach securing federal funding for community energy projects?

The Noarlunga case demonstrates that successful federal funding applications require more than technical merit. Organizations should: identify the specific funding round and program objectives; conduct a rigorous technical assessment of proposed solutions; quantify greenhouse gas reduction, energy savings, and public benefit in programme-aligned terms; integrate the project with existing asset renewal or strategic plans; and compile a compelling application that translates technical complexity into fundable outcomes. Our involvement shows how specialized advisors can strengthen applications by ensuring technical recommendations align with funder priorities and budget availability.

What does the Noarlunga project reveal about funding stacking for community infrastructure?

The project illustrates the importance of integrating multiple funding and investment sources. The $1.6M Community Energy Upgrades Fund grant forms part of a broader $10M+ upgrade programme at the centre, meaning the federal funding was strategically stacked with the council's asset renewal budget. This approach maximizes leverage: each funding stream addresses different aspects of the upgrade, timing aligns with necessary replacements, and the combined investment delivers greater emissions reduction and operational improvement than single-source funding alone. Effective funding-pathway assessment, as we provide, identifies these stacking opportunities early.

Why is partnership between technical experts and fund administrators important for project success?

The Noarlunga project succeeded because we bridged the gap between technical electrification analysis and funder requirements. A technically sound heat pump solution could fail to secure funding if the application doesn't clearly articulate greenhouse gas benefits, energy savings, or public value in programme-aligned language. By collaborating with council to translate detailed technical recommendations into a fundable proposal, we ensured the solution was both technically viable and administratively eligible. This partnership approach—connecting engineering assessment with commercial and funding strategy—reflects industry best practice for complex community infrastructure upgrades.

What practical steps did Northmore Gordon take to support the Noarlunga application?

We provided a technical review of electrification options for pool and space heating, delivered recommendations on a decarbonisation pathway, compiled a prioritized list of projects aligned to Community Energy Upgrades Fund objectives with quantified greenhouse gas reduction and energy savings, worked with council to translate technical detail into a compelling application, and ensured the proposed solution integrated with asset renewal plans and other funding pathways. This structured approach—combining technical assessment, opportunity quantification, and strategic communication—demonstrates how our six-stage delivery model translates analysis into funded outcomes.

What outcomes can organizations expect from electrifying community heating systems?

The Noarlunga project will achieve significant emissions reductions and energy savings by replacing gas-fired pool and space heating with efficient electric heat pumps. Beyond environmental benefits, the switch delivers long-term operational cost savings and improves system resilience by reducing gas reliance. For community facilities like aquatic centres that operate continuously and consume substantial heating energy, electrification with high-efficiency equipment can meaningfully lower operating budgets while supporting facility decarbonisation targets. These dual benefits—environmental and economic—make the business case compelling and align with government funding programme priorities.

How can organizations determine whether their community assets are suitable for electrification?

Organizations should start by assessing heating requirements: temperature setpoints, seasonal variation, operating hours, and current fuel consumption. Electrification feasibility depends on whether electric heat pumps can reliably deliver required temperatures and capacities, whether electrical infrastructure can support additional load, and whether the investment aligns with asset renewal cycles. A formal feasibility study—as we provide through our 'Build the Case' delivery stage—compares electrification against alternative options, quantifies energy and emissions outcomes, identifies infrastructure constraints, and develops an investment case. This assessment determines whether electrification is technically viable and commercially justified for the specific facility.

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