The Berry Street car park in Nowra is destined to be Shoalhaven's second electric vehicle (EV) charging station following a decision by Council at the Ordinary Meeting on Tuesday 25 March.
The proposed EV chargers will be accessible to all EV drivers and will host four DC fast chargers, including two 180kW ABB Terra DC chargers capable of charging an EV to 80% in 20 minutes.
Mayor Patricia White said that this was a great deal for residents and visitors with NRMA responsible for the cost of the installation, infrastructure, signage and maintenance.
"Council will enter into a five-year licence with the NRMA where they will pay $6,000 per annum in rent and see that Council is not incurring any costs with this project," Cr White said.
"There are many benefits to having EV chargers in the Shoalhaven including boosting tourism, encouraging EV adoption and promoting sustainable travel," she said.
"The facility forms part of the National EV charging network which aims to connect communities and improve EV infrastructure in more regional locations. It's great the Shoalhaven is part of this vision."
In December 2024, Shoalhaven residents and visitors were invited to have their say on the proposed EV charging station with the Berry Street site widely supported by 85% of 86 survey respondents.
While the new EV charging station will result in the net loss of one car parking space, the loss is not considered detrimental to the function of the car park and availability of car parking for the public. The proposed EV charging spaces will result in a continual turnover of vehicles based on the estimated 30 minutes charging time per vehicle.
The Berry Street facility will be the second EV charging location on Council land, with the first of its generation 400kW Ultra-fast charger (capable of charging an EV in around 15 minutes) now live at South St Ulladulla.
The NRMA, under a Federal Government grant, is responsible for all costs associated with the construction and installation of the charging station infrastructure and the ongoing operational costs to maintain the station. This project also aligns with Council's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan.
The EV charging station should be operational by mid-year 2025.
