Moriac charging towards renewable future

MORIAC’S growing community of electric vehicle users now have a free local charge point.

Moriac Community Network has installed a new seven-kilowatt charger at the town’s community centre at Newling Reserve, with help from a Surf Coast Shire grant.

The charger will use excess rooftop solar generation and purchased renewable electricity to power cars.

It will save Moriac EV users from lengthy drives to top up their tanks, with the nearest adaptable EV previously 20 kilometres away at Armstrong Creek.

MCN president Kim Rowe praised local EV champion Doug Rolfe for inspiring the project.

“As an EV user, Doug had a passion to have EV chargers in Moriac, particularly for people with converted vehicles who need to charge more regularly,” Ms Rowe said.

“His knowledge of the technology and the national PlugShare app, which shows users where all chargers are located, was a key for us and we felt that having a charger would help bring tourists to our town as well as benefit locals.

“Moriac Community Network jumped at the initiative, given our focus on a sustainable community and we submitted an application for a council small grant, which was successful.

“We are thrilled to have this in Moriac and welcome other locals to work with us on innovative ideas for the community.”

The council allocated $2460 for the project from its climate action small grants program.

Shire mayor Libby Stapleton congratulated MCN for its initiative, which she said was an example of a local community leading the way on emissions reduction.

“Surf Coast Shire is a relatively car-dependent region but we are seeing strong uptake of electric vehicles,” Cr Stapleton said.

“Initiatives like this will help to expand our regional charging capacity, meet rising demand and expectation, promote more sustainable transport options and encourage more sustainable tourism.”

The council has also committed to installing public charging stations at Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne and Winchelsea during this financial year.