Seven New EV Streetside Chargers in Lake Macquarie

Seven new pole-mounted electric vehicle chargers have been installed in Lake Macquarie as part of the EV Streetside Charging Project led by energy and smart metering specialist Intellihub. They’re now available for public use.

The NSW state government has extended the operation of the Eraring coal power station, which had been due to close in 2025. The move is a setback for renewable energy and climate change goals.

Eraring Power Station

As the generator churns, electricity surges through transformers to be sent down four-lane highway of towers and into homes. Jonno is one of the 400 or so workers at Eraring, which was built in the late 1970s by the Electricity Commission and acquired by Origin in 2023.

The government has struck a deal with Origin to keep the plant open until at least 2027 and possibly as late as 2029 to support reliable energy supply through NSW’s transition to renewables. Origin can receive compensation if it operates at a loss, and will share a portion of its profits with the state, capped at $40 million per year.

But critics say propping up coal is unnecessary, and the money should be invested in faster roll-out of renewable energy projects that are more efficient than Eraring. They also say extending the life of the plant sends a bad message to developers of utility-scale renewables, stifling investment and slowing progress.

Vales Point Power Station

The owner of Vales Point Power Station on the shores of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales has notified AEMO it could keep the 1320-megawatt coal plant running until 2033, four years beyond its original closure date. Delta Electricity said it reassessed the plant’s “technical life” after delays in completing new generation, storage and transmission projects around NSW caused the pace of switching to renewable energy to be slower than expected.

The Hunter Community Environment Centre’s recently-released “Dirt File” exposes 57 instances of ecological destruction caused by the activities of Delta Electricity and Delta Coal in the southern Lake Macquarie estuary since 2015. The report cites evidence from EPA public registers, scientific literature and documents accessed under Freedom of Information laws. It highlights the impact on the lake, including the near-complete loss of seagrass in Wyee Bay and thermal pollution causing two significant fish kills this year. The EPA is investigating. The plant is also under investigation for toxic water contamination that led to the deaths of at least 100 dolphins in 2022 at Mannering Park and nearby Myuna Bay.

Wind Farms

The wind catches wind turbines’ blades and turns their rotational energy into electricity. It is then channelled into the electric grid, powering homes and businesses.

It is a key part of the renewable energy mix, helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Many people, including NRDC, are working to ensure that we develop wind in ways that take into account the well-being of wildlife and delicate marine ecosystems. Tens of millions of animals die indirectly from fossil fuel projects each year by polluting the air and water, and climate change will do even more damage.

While some people worry about the noise, millions of others live near wind farms around the world without any problems. Moreover, research by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that 92% of people living within 5 miles of a wind farm say they are satisfied with their experience.

Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions. They can be powered by renewable energy from rooftop solar and emit zero on-road pollution if the electricity comes from an off-grid source.

Local councils have a role to play in increasing public charging options, and encouraging their residents to drive them. However, barriers to adoption include range anxiety and a lack of infrastructure.

Lake Macquarie City Council has seven new EV chargers on offer in its suburbs. They are installed on power poles at Harrison Street Cardiff, Beach Road Redhead, Ocean Street Dudley, Smith Street Charlestown and Bridge and Station Street Morisset.

In Port Macquarie, Essential Energy has partnered with Wagners Composite Fibre Technologies to trial a prototype of a composite street light pole designed to house an EV charger. The innovative design connects to the electricity used by the existing pole, eliminating the need for additional infrastructure and earthworks and reducing costs.

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