Published on:
Thursday, 7 March 2024- 22 Local Governments have committed to spending $7.68M to roll out 129 Battery Electric Vehicles to replace existing petrol and diesel vehicles
- $3.51M funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and $1M from the WA State Government to provide charging infrastructure and energy upgrades
- Total Project Value $12.26 million
WALGA has been working with Local Governments for nearly two years to develop the ARENA Project which was announced today by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy the Hon. Chris Bowen.
This project is a first of its kind to bring together the buying power of Local Government to reduce costs associated with transition to EVs and ensure knowledge sharing across the sector.
WALGA President Karen Chappel today welcomed the funding announcement, acknowledging both the ARENA funding and that from the State Government of Western Australia.
“This project shows what is possible when Federal and State Government, Local Governments, and WALGA work together. This project, through aggregating procurement, will accelerate our Local Governments being able to transition their fleets to Battery Electric Vehicles, providing cost effective solutions.
“For non-metropolitan Local Governments, this project is particularly important as the funding of power infrastructure upgrades will allow them to short circuit what would otherwise have been a difficult process.”
The 22 Local Governments who are part of this first initiative will provide key learnings as WALGA looks to work with all Councils to assist with fleet transition across Western Australia.
The 22 Local Governments are the City of Armadale, Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, Shire of Boddington, Town of Cambridge, City of Canning, Shire of Capel, Shire of Denmark, Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council, City of Fremantle, City of Gosnells, Shire of Harvey, City of Joondalup, City of Kalamunda, City of Melville, Shire of Mundaring, Shire of Northam, City of Perth, Shire of Ravensthorpe, City of Rockingham, City of Stirling, City of Subiaco and Town of Victoria Park.
This Program implementation is commencing immediately, with WALGA working with Local Government to fast track the installation of charging infrastructure.
Cr Chappel said, “This is a new era in powering Local Government fleets into the future.”
