The earlier policy allowed for two new NRMA fast chargers at the council’s Stewart Street East Carpark. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
Wollongong City Council is supporting residents in the switch to electric vehicles to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the Local Government Area.
The council has voted unanimously to adopt a new Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure on Public Land Policy guiding third-party providers to establish, operate and maintain charging infrastructure on council-owned or managed land.
The new policy was finalised following a round of community consultation earlier this year, where 98 per cent of submissions supported the document.
Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said the hope was to facilitate better access to charging stations in the city.
“This will, in turn, allow more drivers to consider whether the move to an electric vehicle is for them,” he said.
“We are committed to increasing the availability of the stations and this policy makes clear our procurement, site selection, design and licensing requirements.”
Cr Bradbery said while the council would not own or operate the charging stations, it was keen to make sure they were accessible and convenient and met the community’s needs now and into the future.
As a further indication of the council’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the LGA, charging station providers were encouraged to use renewable energy to power the chargers where possible.
“Renewable energy is the fuel of the future and when our residents are ready to transition, council is taking steps to ensure the charging infrastructure they need is available,” Cr Bradbery said.
“Switching to electric vehicles and appliances powered by renewable energy is cleaner, cheaper to run and better for the planet.
“Moving forward, this infrastructure will play a part in achieving net-zero community emissions in Wollongong by 2050.”
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