Shellharbour Council will call on the private sector to boost the number of electric vehicle charging stations from the 12 now in the local government area.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
At Tuesday night council meeting councillors voted in favour of placing the draft electric vehicle charging guidelines on public exhibition.
While the uptake of EVs is tipped to accelerate over the next decade, council papers state there aren't enough in Shellharbour right now to warrant council making a large investment in charging infrastructure.
"Given that the current uptake of EVs is still relatively low, it is accepted that the current level of charging would be insufficient to cover electricity costs as well as associated costs of asset ownership such as depreciation and maintenance," the business papers stated.
"As a result, attracting third party operators would currently provide a more financially attractive model, as they will bear the cost of the EV infrastructure and all associated maintenance, repairs and depreciation through a lease arrangement with council."
The draft policy covers the building of charging stations on council-owned land and states a preference that they be located in areas where the user can shop or use amenities while the car is charging and that there is existing or predicted demand for a charge station in that location.
At present there are 12 charger plugs; four at Shell Cove and eight at Shellharbour Square but only four of those have a fast-charge capacity of 50kW or above.
"Whilst the Shellharbour LGA has not been identified as an optimal zone in the (NS EV) Master Plan, it does suggest that by 2031, 12 50kW or greater fast charger plugs will be required in the Shellharbour LGA," the council report says.
Speaking at Tuesday's council meeting Cr Rob Petreski said it was a case of the "chicken and the egg" when it comes to EV and charging infrastructure.
"Infrastructure is important," Cr Petreski said, "because if you have the infrastructure in place it will give people confidence that they can buy an electric vehicle and they can charge their vehicle when they are out and about in our city."
Cr Petreski said the policy ticked many boxes, "the most important one is it's the right thing to do".
The draft electric vehicle guidelines were passed unanimously and will now go on public exhibition.
To read more stories, download the Illawarra Mercury news app in the Apple Store or Google Play.
Sign up for breaking news emails below ...
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
