Republished from Environment Connect Summer 22-23
The East Gippsland Shire Council has installed the first stage of the planned public electric vehicle (EV) charging station network in East Gippsland. Contractors are working hard to have them ready before Christmas. Stage one is funded by the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program and is seeing a 50kw fast charger installed in the following sites:
121 Nicholson Street carpark, Bairnsdale
Tongio Road, Omeo
Wolseley Street carpark & toilet block, Orbost
Ward Street, Cann River
The fees and charges were set at an unscheduled Council meeting on 29 November 2022. The cost for the public to charge will be 40 cents per kWh, and the customers will need to set up an account with ChargeFox. For more information and to stay up to date visit Council’s Electric Vehicle Your Say page, where information on the new electric vehicle network is updated regularly – including sites being planned for next year in Buchan, Mallacoota and Lakes Entrance.The EV chargers will supply 100% renewable electricity from Council’s energy retailer via a ten year power purchase agreement, called VECO.
Evie networks are also installing EV chargers for the public. They will be installed in the following towns:
Francis Street, Bairnsdale (image above)*
Visitor Information Centre, Lakes Entrance
Raymond Street, Paynesville
Visitor Information Centre, Bruthen
Evie Networks will also be installing 50kW DC charging stations, using their own software platform. The units for Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance are likely to be installed and ready for use over the summer holidays. Electrical supply upgrades are required at Bruthen and Paynesville, delaying the roll out until 2023 at these two sites.
More information: Rebecca Lamble, Sustainability Officer
*This station was built in just 3 days.