With electric cars increasing in popularity, the lack of public charging station in the Kiama LGA means travelling drivers are bypassing the area.

“If it wasn’t for having a friend in Kiama we wouldn’t have chosen to come here,” says Patrick Gibbs, of Brisbane, who is on a 5,000 roadtrip through NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

“Electric cars are not just the future, they are the present, and it is surprising that such a tourist area hasn’t got on board.”

With a range of around 500km in their Tesla, Patrick and his wife Susan Cullinan are planning their trip around the availability of charging stations through the plugshare app.

They found charging stations in much smaller towns than Kiama, like Stanthorpe and Tenterfield, on the way south.

Locally, the nearest charging stations are at Shell Cove, where there is a supercharger in the Woolworths carpark; Shoalhaven Heads, at Bangalay Resort and at Mountain Ridge Winery; and Berry, at the Bowling Club and at Silos Estate.

Some of the chargers cost, while others are free. When at home, Patrick and Susan charge their car at home using solar generation.

“Our trip has cost us $50 in power from Brisbane to here, using a combination of paid fast chargers and the free chargers network courtesy of NRMA which we can access through our RACQ membership," says Susan.

Kiama LGA has no public charging points. The charging point at Gerringong is for the use of Park Ridge guests only.

As yet, Council has not been successful in its applications for electric chargers to be installed, but other opportunities are emerging.

“We agree that there is a need for EV charging points in Kiama and were disappointed to not be able to be part of the NRMA program that rolled out in both of our neighbouring LGAs,” says a Council spokesperson.

Council has recently put in an expression of interest to the NSW Government for its new Drive Electric EV fast charging grants program.

“Council has submitted a number of locations for the EOI and Kiama Municipality has been identified under this program as requiring a certain number of charging points,” says the spokesperson.

“It is Council’s understanding that assessment and funding of sites for the first round of this NSW Government Program is underway and will be announced later in 2022.”

Kiama missed out on the NRMA roll-out of charging stations

The potential locations nominated are on public land, in the Holiday Parks, at The Pavilion and at Council’s depots and/or Administration Centre.

“We are also working through options to transition some of our corporate vehicles to EVs, however we need to work through priorities of the organisation and budget allocations first,” says the spokesperson.

“Council does have a range of other Net Zero initiatives in place for 2022-23 and we will revisit the issue of EV charging points as soon as our budget and resources allow. We will also continue to progress the development of supporting policies which assist in allowing external providers to install EV chargers on public land.”

Woolworths has incorporated two spaces for electric vehicle charging points in Stage 2 of its redeveloped Kiama Village, likely to be finished in the second half of next year.