Lismore City Council has come on board with going electric and will soon get its first Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station in the heart of the CBD.
Lismore Mayor Vanessa Ekins said the project will provide much-needed shade for visitors to the CBD, with excess solar energy fed back into the electricity grid.
Lismore City Council recently accepted a tender to design and construct a $600,000 ‘Solar Carpark’ in the Council-owned Clyde Campbell carpark. The infrastructure includes the installation an architectural ‘butterfly-shaped’ awning, clad with photo-voltaic solar panels and covering 40 carparks. It also includes the installation of two EV fast chargers, making them Lismore’s first.
‘The solar shade project at the Clyde Campbell Carpark is a great example of local government showing leadership on climate change issues and working towards becoming a sustainable city that embraces renewable energy,’ said Mayor Ekins.
‘Our community has consistently said they want Council to tackle the impacts of climate change, increase the use of renewable energy and provide more shade throughout the Lismore CBD for locals and visitors. This project delivers on all of that and will also provide an electric car-charging station for Lismore, which is exciting news and I’m sure the first of many to come.’
The solar roof is funded through a $1 million grant provided by the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Program to 52 NSW councils to complete infrastructure and other drought-relief projects.
…and the rainwater is an added bonus. Good job allround Lismore Council.
What a great idea.
Shows what a progressive Council(majority Labor and Greens) can accomplish.
Remember this when the local government elections are finally held and vote accordingly.
Ummmm..
Isn’t there a flood issue with Lismore CBD?
Good luck getting your EV charged in the Lismore CBD after a major flood event!
Good thinking Lismore Council! We have a Plug In hybrid and try to use the electric all the way into Lismore, do the shopping, then return home on the electric but sometimes we don’t have enough charge and have to revert to petrol. It would be great to have a quick charge up while we are shopping. Looking forward to the Charging station in Lismore. Good onya.
Ah but the feds are pulling out all the stops to ensure most electric car models will never be sold here.
I’m thinking of contrepreneuring a coal-driven car. I’m sure there would be a limitless stream of federal funding for it (with or without actual buyers).