Partnership to powers Hundreds in Savings for Mt Druitt Community

29 October 2024

Tenants of a 40-unit social housing complex in Western Sydney are expected to save hundreds of dollars a year on their utility bills, thanks to a community partnership between Great Southern Bank and Mission Australia.

The $1 million, three-year partnership will deliver energy and efficiency upgrades to community housing complexes across Australia. The latest upgrades at Mt Druitt are showcased in a video, released today, that shares the real stories of tenants benefiting from the partnership.

Mat Patterson, Head of Branches and Broker at Great Southern Bank, said the upgrade demonstrated the bank’s commitment to supporting customers, communities and climate action.

“Over the past 12-months, we’ve made significant progress in becoming a more environmentally responsible bank. We’ve transitioned more of our branches and hubs to renewable energy and, earlier this month, launched a green home offering which offers customers a discounted loan rate. This complements the strong demand we’re seeing for our green personal loans. We’re excited to support Mission Australia tenants in adopting energy-efficiency measures to lower living costs and reduce emissions,” he said.

The Mt Druitt complex is the third major project delivered through Great Southern Bank’s investment. The upgrade included the installation of a shared rooftop solar system, which distributes energy to the 40 units based on individual demand to increase efficiency.

Mitchell Dawson, Strategic Asset Manager for Mission Australia Housing, said the upgrades were already delivering positive impacts in both cost savings and tenant comfort.

“Installing the solar panels will make it more affordable for tenants to cool their apartments this summer. We’re already seeing positive results from our first complex upgrade in Forster, NSW, where tenants are on track to save $500 annually,” he said.

Over the three-year partnership, Great Southern Bank is funding a range of energy and efficiency upgrades at Mission Australia’s facilities including solar panels, insulation, window glazing, LED lighting and energy and water meters.

Claudette, a tenant in Mt Druitt featured in a video by Great Southern Bank and Mission Australia, said she was hopeful that the energy savings would ease the burden of paying the bills, especially in the lead up to Christmas.

“You’ve got to worry about your rent, your food, your bills and if you’ve got anything left, you’re bloody lucky. With the money saved, I’d love to buy my kids and grandkids Christmas presents. I don’t have that kind of money at the moment,” Claudette said.

The Great Southern Bank and Mission Australia Mt Druitt video is available here.