PORT Stephens Council is exploring the idea of electric vehicle chargers in the area, noting market trends and economic opportunities.
During the latest Council meeting, Cr Roz Armstrong and Cr Jason Wells put forward a motion requesting that EV charging installations be included in future strategic plans.
“People who own an EV plan their trips around EV charging stations,” said Cr Wells.
“In Port Stephens, we don’t have these ‘destination chargers’.
“It’s an economic development opportunity, it’s a tourism opportunity, it’s an opportunity to modernise our key public spaces.
Cr Wells also clarified that any future EV charger would be installed at no cost to ratepayers.
Cr Armstrong outlined further benefits of this strategy.
“Electric vehicles are no longer a niche technology,” she said.
“In 2026, it is expected that EV vehicles will make up 15.6 percent of car sales [in NSW].
“The market is moving, the State is investing, and Local Government has a real opportunity to shape where the benefits land.”
Cr Armstrong went on to say that “public EV charging is an issue of fairness and access”; that it supports cleaner air and long-term emissions reduction and that the M1 highway extension will provide an opportunity for signage ensuring that Raymond Terrace and the LGA are not bypassed by EV-owners travelling around Australia.
“I can see it now: ‘Stop, revive, survive, and recharge, in Raymond Terrace!’”
Cr Giacomo Arnott talked about the economic benefits that could be gained by placing chargers in strategic locations.
“If people are travelling up the freeway and they need an EV charger… and we are charging $2 per kWh or something ridiculous like that, they’re not gonna have a choice, they’re gonna have to stop in and put some juice and we’re gonna collect the dollars from it.”
Councillors unanimously agree that no EV charging station should impede or replace priority parking.
“Unfortunately, in a neighbouring Council, I did see disabled parking painted over with electric vehicle charging output,” commented Cr Mark Watson.
Cr Wells confirmed that he’s fully supportive of ensuring that “any accessible parking is protected as part of any future design process.”
By Nico LOMBARDO
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