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Eastern Councils leading the EV charge

Electric vehicle (EV) chargers have arrived in the Eastern Suburbs, making it easier than ever to drive an EV. Eighty per cent of Eastern Suburbs residents are now within 500 meters (or an eight-minute walk) of an EV charger. Over the past year, Waverley, Woollahra, and Randwick Councils have helped expand the network from 75 charging spaces to more than 300, providing our community with more choice and convenience.

Eastern Suburbs residents are also making the switch to EVs, with around one in 20 cars on our roads now fully electric (three times the state average). To support this shift, the three  Councils are working with major charging providers such as EVX, EVIE Networks, Ausgrid, EVSE and JOLT to facilitate the expansion.

Different types of chargers have been installed in different locations, with slower (AC) chargers installed in residential locations and faster (DC) chargers located at shopping centres, beaches and other high turnover areas.

EV charging is now available in several new locations, including:

• Woollahra LGA:
  • Lyne Park, Woollahra Golf Club, Watsons Bay, Darling Point, Steyne Park

• Waverley LGA:
  • Marks Park, Waverley Oval, Bronte Beach, Queens Park
• Randwick LGA:
  • South Coogee, Maroubra Junction, Kingsford, Chifley, Little Bay

These new chargers are required to help the large percentage of residents living in multi-unit dwellings (60 per cent) or those renting (50 per cent), where charging at home is less available. Public charging helps to bridge this gap, while also cutting emissions and creating quieter, healthier suburbs.

To find your nearest charger, use Google Maps (search ‘charging station’) or Plugshare. You can learn more about EVs, the EV rollout program and suggest future charging locations via Council’s Have Your Say Page.

Waverley, Woollahra, and Randwick Councils have been at the forefront of public vehicle charging installations for a number of years. In 2019, they were the first in New South Wales to establish a network of Council-owned charging stations, powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity.

In November 2023, Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick Councils endorsed the ‘Leading the Charge: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy’, outlining the vision and infrastructure required to meet growing numbers of EVs on our roads and have recently appointed a full-time EV Project Manager – a first for councils in NSW.

The EV rollout is funded by NSW Local Small Commitments Allocation Grants (LSCA), NSW Government Kerbside Charging Grants, Council and private sector investment.