By Dominique Tassell
A letter from Lucinda Hoffman, a General Manager at the Department of Transport and Main Roads, discussing the possibility of an electric car charging station in Stanthorpe, was included in a recent Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) Ordinary Council Meeting.
The letter referenced the announcement on 17 June this year by the Honourable Mark Bailey MP, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, that $2.755 million would be committed to extending the Queensland Electric Superhighway (QESH) with 18 new charging sites across the state.
Lucinda advised that as part of the Government’s investment in QESH Phase 3, Stanthorpe has been selected to host a QESH fast-charging station.
“While initial development focused on establishing the QESH network along the Bruce Highway as Queensland’s major north-south corridor, extending the charging network inland to North West Queensland was prioritised for Phase 2.”
She stated that once complete, the Queensland Government’s Phase 3 investment will increase the QESH network to 49 fast-charging locations which will allow electric vehicle (EV) users to explore Outback Queensland, support economic recovery in the regions, and encourage further drive tourism opportunities across our state.
During the Council meeting, Councillor Stephen Tancred raised some questions about the project and how it would affect the community.
Councillor Tancred asked whether there would be an agreement for us to host the site and whether the charging station would be on council land.
He questioned whether this would mean the station would be a financial cost for Council.
“Would we be charging the public to charge their cars?”
SDRC CEO Dave Burges stated that he couldn’t answer that question at this point in time.
He said this had been deferred to the works department to liaise in that process, and he did not know what the criteria would be nor who would pay the electricity bill.
