Castlemaine: Whole of Home Resilience Report Now Available

It follows our landmark pilot project in Victoria’s Mount Alexander Shire, supported by Emergency Management Victoria.

The report showcases the integration of energy performance and natural hazard resilience into a single, practical home assessment tool.

This unique project assessed 140 homes using a combined Multi-Hazard Resilience Rating and the Victorian Government’s Residential Efficiency Scorecard. The result is a groundbreaking, one-visit model that helps households reduce emissions, lower energy bills, and prepare for bushfires, floods, and storms.

Key findings include

•  90% of homes had the lowest possible bushfire resilience rating (1 Star), yet 95% could improve to 3–5 Stars with recommended upgrades.

•  68% of homes were primarily exposed to bushfire risk, 26% to storms, and 6% to flooding.

•  An estimated 5:1 cost–benefit ratio for regional rollout of the model and recommendations, driven by savings in disaster recovery, insurance, and energy costs.

Participants consistently described the assessments as supportive and thorough. One noted:

“Being able to talk through the specifics of my house and retrofit options with an expert was really helpful… I now have a clearer plan, and I am inspired to take the next steps.”

Assessors also observed:

“The combination of energy and resilience assessments made sense to participants and often sparked new motivation to take informed action.”

Next steps

The report demonstrates that personalised assessments are essential. No two homes received the same recommendations. It also highlights the co-benefits of upgrades such as sealing, insulation, and vegetation management, delivering both energy savings and risk reduction.

This pilot marks the first real-world test of integrating home energy upgrades with hazard resilience. Its success strengthens the case for national rollout, particularly in regions facing growing climate risks.