Kiama’s newly installed electric vehicle (EV) chargers at The Pavilion have sparked debate and action at the recent Council meeting. While initially set to remain free until the end of the 2024/2025 financial year, a revised motion means drivers will soon need to pay to use them, addressing concerns about costs to the Council.

The four chargers, funded by the NSW Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW) through EV Destination Charging Grants, were installed earlier this month. The grant, approved in June, left the Council unable to incorporate fees into its 2024/2025 Fees and Charges schedule, prompting the initial decision to offer free charging for seven months.

Councillor Brown charging his car with the EV chargers

However, at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on November 20, Councillors voted to expedite the introduction of fees, citing potential reputational risks and financial burdens. Council business papers estimated that providing free electricity for seven months would cost up to $7,000. A revised fee schedule, including a 50-cent connection fee, 65 cents per kWh charge, and a 50 cents per minute idle fee, is expected to be implemented by early next year.

Councillor Matt Brown clarified that users would need to bring their own charging cords.

“I thought I’d give it a go today - so I went out to the Kiama Pavilion with my car and I noticed that it didn’t have a plug or hose that would usually come out of the charger to put in your car,” said Cr Brown.

At this point, Brown humorously pulled out a bag, using a prop to emphasise his point. “But luckily for me, I’ve got a box of tricks,” said Cr Brown.

“And inside there was a double-ended plug, which is what you’ll need for the EV charger. You put one end into the EV charger and one end into the car, and you’ll need one of these to use the chargers,” said Brown.

Brown also revealed that there is a slight cost involved, which goes to Exploren, the electrical charging company.

“After a good ten minutes of charging I was charged by Exploren about $1.50 for that use. I’d encourage people to go and give it a go,” said Cr Brown.

The new EV chargers are part of the NSW Government's Electric Vehicle Strategy, aiming for EVs to make up over 50% of new passenger vehicle sales by 2031.

Councillors Imogen Draisma and Stuart Larkins expressed strong support for the EV chargers and hoped this would be a sign of more to come. “I think it’s great that we were successful in getting a grant to have these EV chargers placed in our municipality,” said Councillor Draisma. Kiama’s initiative reflects the growing demand “Kiama has one of the highest percentages of EV users in NSW. This is a much-needed step for our community.”

“I’m very happy we received grant funding from the NSW government for EV chargers. There’s many more that need to be put up, there’s been a lot of community feedback for some in Gerringong and the Kiama Leisure Centre and it’s something I will continue to advocate for,” said Councillor Larkins.

While the chargers won’t remain free as initially proposed, the Council is optimistic about their impact on sustainability and the convenience they offer to EV drivers.

The installation of EV chargers across NSW is part of the state government’s Electric Vehicle Strategy, which aims to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles in NSW. Under this strategy, EV sales are forecast to make up more than 50% of all new passenger vehicles by 2031.

The new EV chargers at Kiama Pavillion