21 December 2021

Iconic Bailey's Garage home to Gunning's first EV charging station

| Katrina Condie
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Wendy Tuckerman MP tries out the new EV charging station in Gunning

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman tries out the new EV charging station in Gunning. Photo: Gunning District Association.

Gunning’s iconic Bailey’s Garage is roaring the country town into a new era with the installation of the Upper Lachlan Shire’s first fast electric vehicle (EV) charging station.

The free charging station, at the front of the historic garage in Gunning’s main street, will be available for locals and visitors to recharge their cars while they visit the shops and cafes in the village.

An initiative of the Gunning District Association, the charging station was funded through an Acciona Energia grant and the Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund.

In a recent community survey, local young people said they wanted Gunning to do more to help the transition to a clean energy future.

John Storey from the Gunning District Association said the reaction from local businesses has been very positive since the station was set up.

“Bailey’s Garage has been serving Australian drivers since the 1920s and now, as we electrify our transport, it’s taken an important step into a future of clean, low-emission driving,” he said.

“There are about 30,000 electric vehicles on Australian roads currently, but that number is predicted to grow to around 1.3 million by 2030.

“We’re hoping that this charging station will encourage visitors to spend more time in our town and that we will be able to provide more such facilities over time.”

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Upper Lachlan Shire Council general manager Colleen Worthy says the installation of the electric vehicle charging station in time for the Christmas break will help to attract visitors and highway traffic to Gunning.

“Gunning is well positioned in the shire to attract Hume Highway travellers and visitors from Canberra,” she said.

“Increasingly, tourists are seeing the benefits of stopping and relaxing in local towns to break their journey.

“It boosts the economy of our shire villages and makes for a safer, more relaxing and enjoyable journey.”

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman has used the new station and says she’s “pleased that the NSW Government was able to support this community-led initiative in Gunning”.

“The NSW Government is leading the way in Australia in transitioning to a lower emissions transport future and initiatives such as this are very welcome,” she added.

The EV charging station in Gunning will provide free electricity for vehicles for the first two years with the costs being covered by the Gunning District Association.

The nearest charging stations for Hume Highway travellers are located at Goulburn and Yass.

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What is the charging station using to generate the electricity? Base load power?

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