As Novocastrians begin to transition to electric vehicles (EVs) in record numbers, Newcastle Labor councillors are wanting to futureproof new developments and establish an ‘EV Ready’ city.
Through modifications to the City of Newcastle’s Development Control Plan (DCP), future development would require appropriate conduit and electrical cabling to enable the installation of future charging stations in carparks and garages.
Additionally, new commercial and large scale residential development would be required to install charging stations to service five per cent of new car parking spaces.
Newcastle Councillor, Elizabeth Adamczyk, said it was time for building standards to evolve and become more EV-friendly.
“In five to 10 years, we know that many garages across the city will be home to an electric vehicle,” Cr Adamczyk said.
“By requiring that new buildings are ‘EV Ready’, through simple actions like installing appropriate cabling when buildings are constructed, we’ll be ensuring that the city is ready for the future.”
Currently, there are no Newcastle planning controls requiring EV charging infrastructure to be included in new developments.
The proposed changes would apply to all Development Application approval projects involving parking and all developments over $200,000.
EV charging inclusions at the development stage is reportedly low and estimated between $50 to $300 per park, a figure that Labor councillors insist is much cheaper than future retrofitting.
Cr Adamczyk said the council had a crucial role to play in supporting EVs and that the City of Newcastle had already begun the transition.
“We have rolled out new public charging infrastructure from Wallsend to the Foreshore and are transitioning our own fleet of vehicles,” Cr Adamczyk said.
“Shifting our building standards to best practice is another step toward a cleaner, healthier and more resilient future for our region.”
According to the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), sales of plug-in electric vehicles tripled in the past year, from 6,900 in 2020 to 20,665 in 2021.
EVC CEO, Behyad Jafari, said the boost in EV popularity was driven by positive policy change and societal benefits like cleaner air, reduced respiratory illness, a smaller carbon footprint and quieter roads.
“The penny has now well and truly dropped on how good electric vehicles are, and most people in the car market will now be considering an electric option.”
City of Newcastle’s EV push accompanies statewide policies designed to support the uptake of EVs.
In 2021, the NSW Government announced a $490 million package that aimed to incentivise the purchase of EVs over the next decade.
Stamp duty was abolished for EVs purchased under $78,00, and over the next four years, cash rebates will be offered for new EV buyers.
The government aims to increase EV sales to more than 50 per cent of new cars sold in NSW by 2030 and the vast majority of sales by 2035.
Carmakers including Mazda, Nissan, Volvo, General Motors and Ford have set timelines to phase out petrol and diesel cars and become 100 per cent electric from 2030.
Cr Adamczyk said it was important that the City of Newcastle planned for its transport future.
“A third of Novocastrians rent their home today, with limited opportunities to make modifications like installing new electrical wiring,” Cr Adamczyk said.
“Development controls like our policy proposes are a simple way to ensure that future occupiers – be they owners or tenants – can easily transition to EVs without the hassle and high expenses associated with future retrofitting.
“Having this option increases the attractiveness of homes to residents – whether tenants or owners – who want to have the choice of being able to own an electric vehicle, now or in the future.
“It’s a simple policy that is a win for residents, future drivers and our environment.”
The modifications made to the City of Newcastle’s Development Control Plan will be publicly exhibited for 28 days, with the community invited to provide feedback.
Maia O’Connor