Rotary Club of Bairnsdale, in partnership with East Gippsland Shire Council and Gippsland Climate Change Network, held an Electronic Vehicle (EV) expo last weekend in the St Mary's Parish car park.
Despite the cold and wet conditions, a generous crowd turned out to check out all things EV.
On goers had the opportunity to browse a range of electric cars and bikes, as well as learn about different makes and models, charging rates, batteries, and carbon footprint.
East Gippsland Shire Council deputy mayor, Cr Arthur Allen, gave a speech at the event.
"I am pleased to stand here today as the deputy mayor of East Gippsland Shire Council and to officially open the electric vehicle expo organised by Sunrise Rotary," Cr Allen said.
"I want to thank the Rotary Club for their efforts in promoting sustainable transport and for bringing together this impressive gathering of speakers and electric vehicles. In particular I would like to recognise Carina Turner, for her vision and motivation to make today happen.
"This expo is an opportunity to showcase the latest technology and advancements in electric vehicles, which are becoming increasingly popular as people become more aware of the benefits of sustainable transport. Electric vehicles offer a cleaner, quieter and more efficient form of transportation with reduced emissions and running costs compared to traditional vehicles.
"Electric vehicles are critical in the fight against global warming. Approximately twenty percent of our communities' emissions in East Gippsland come from transport."
Cr Allen also announced the launch of the EV charging network for East Gippsland.
"This initiative is an important step towards making electric vehicles accessible to everyone in our community," Cr Allen said.
"We recognise that charging infrastructure is a critical component of electric vehicle adoption, and this network will help ensure that drivers have convenient access to charging facilities across the region."
Once complete, the charging network will include a mix of mostly fast charging stations (and some slow charging stations), located throughout East Gippsland to provide convenient access for residents and visitors.
"Twelve months ago there we no charging stations in public carparks in East Gippsland," Cr Allen said.
"By the end of this year, there will be approximately 16 EV charging stations across nine towns. "Some of these are owned by private companies such as Tesla and Evie Networks, and council is using State and Federal funding to install seven fast chargers."
The first stage of the Electric Vehicle Charge Points project was jointly funded by the Australian Government and East Gippsland Shire Council.
Australian Government funding of $400,000 was provided through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program.
The first four of council's 50 kilowatt fast chargers have now been operating since February.
A further three chargers will be added before the end of 2023 as part of planned streetscape upgrades thanks to joint State Government Destination Charging Across Victoria ($150,000) and council ($150,000) funding and will see chargers installed in:
- Mallacoota town centre
- Buchan town centre
- Lakes Entrance in the Gray Street carpark
"I would also like to acknowledge the many businesses who have been ahead of their time, and have already installed EV charging stations for their customers and early adopters," Cr Allen said.
"They definitely need to be recognised for supporting visitors to our beautiful shire.
"I would like to thank all the community members, businesses, and organizations that have worked tirelessly to make this initiative a reality. Your dedication and hard work have brought us to this point, and we are grateful for your contributions."

Caption: Bairnsdale Sunrise Rotary Club and EV expo driver, Carina Turner, with Tesla's Will Anderson.