Creswick EV: No movement at the station

Two months after it was scheduled for activation the new public EV charge station at Creswick remains yet to be activated.

The 50 kW Chargefox station was installed beside the town’s visitor information centre in Albert Street in December and had been expected to be up and running by late February.

But it still remains to be switched on, leaving local EV users asking “when?” and “why the delay?” as they fork out the EV Road Users Charge and check the public PlugShare website, that lists locations of charge stations nationwide, for updates.

Both the Hepburn Shire Council and Hepburn Energy, collaborators in the new station’s installation, declined to speak publicly, citing a “state government embargo”.

However The Local’s various enquiries, including of Chargefox itself, suggest the new station will likely be activated in the next couple of weeks pending arrangements involving Chargefox and Powercor.

The PlugShare website was listing the new station as “Coming soon” while stating also that “parks have been painted and wiring begun as of 23/12/2022”. Comments posted on the site illustrate EV drivers’ frustration at finding the station still unusable.

Meanwhile the number of charge stations that are operable in Hepburn Shire does include the Creswick RACV Forest Resort’s 7kw type 2 Chargefox free charge station, while others listed across the shire include:

Daylesford - 25kw Chargefox public charge station, front of town hall, Vincent Street & 22kw Tesla Destination station, the Lake House, King Street.

Hepburn Springs Recreation Reserve - two slow charging power outlets on side of building open 24/7; Peppers spa retreat free 10 amp slow charge wall plug for hotel guests to use, Tenth Street

Musk - Prani Glow Day Spa 7kw Tesla Destination charger

Lyonville - Radio Springs Hotel Bed & Breakfast 14kw Tesla Destination charger

Newlyn Recreation Reserve, slow charge power point inside toilet block, (power outlet three metre power lead required)

Others in the area include: Kyneton 50.065kw Evie Network fast charger in Hutton Street; Newstead Enviro Shop J-1772, type 2 charge station; Castlemaine 50.065 Evie Network fast charger, Market Building carpark; two 10 amp slow charge outlets at Castlemaine Park and Garden parking, Downes Road; 5kw Tesla Destination charge station, Campbell Street Lodge; and Woodend 50kw Evie Network charger at 124 High Street.

In addition to the still-to-be activated Creswick site, new charge stations are slated for Hepburn Springs and Trentham in coming months after Chargefox secured $159,500 through the state’s Destination Charging Across Victoria Program to install the new 50 kW DC fast-chargers at the three local locations and Apollo Bay.

Words: Eve Lamb