Council will charge ahead with implementing designated charging infrastructure across the peninsula for electric vehicles following the adoption of a new plan last night.

In April, Council asked the community to provide feedback on the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan with 144 people responding.

Northern Beaches CEO Ray Brownlee said electric vehicles are the way of the future and it was important to support their use.

“There is no better time to get this on our radar. We have been leading the way on electric vehicles and now both Federal and State Governments are also actively encouraging their take up.

“In the first half of 2021, 8688 battery and plug-in EVs have been sold in Australia, which is more than in any calendar year.  And of that number, more than 2,100 Full Electric or Hybrid Vehicles are estimated to be on the Northern Beaches alone.

“Council has a vital role to continue to provide more facilities to our community to promote electric vehicle uptake which supports our ambitious target to reduced vehicle emissions by 30% by 2038,” Mr Brownlee said.

Now the Plan is endorsed, key locations around the peninsula will be finalised with consideration to both private-operated and Council-owned electric vehicle charging stations in strategic locations like carparks, on-street sites and at key hubs.

Consideration will also be given to the type of charging units to be used as well as installation, operational costs and ongoing maintenance.

Currently, there are eight public charging stations in the LGA, seven of those in private property commercial carparks, with the eighth at the Council-owned PCYC carpark in Dee Why.

Council also has eight fully electric vehicles and 10 hybrid electric vehicles as part of its 379-vehicle fleet.

Media Enquiries: media@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au 8495 6943