ARENA has announced $3.51 million in funding to support local governments in Western Australia to purchase electric passengers and build the charging infrastructure for their fleets.
The funding represents close to 50% of $7.68M that 22 councils have committed to roll out 129 Battery Electric Vehicles to replace existing petrol and diesel vehicles. There is also a commitment of $1M from the WA State Government to provide charging infrastructure and energy upgrades. The total project value is $12.26 million.
WALGA has been working with local governments for nearly two years to develop the ARENA Project which was announced in March 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 fleets to reduce costs associated with transition to EVs and ensure knowledge sharing across the sector.
WALGA President Karen Chappel 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 (BEV), 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.
