Council backflips on EV charging station location

THE Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) has revoked its original decision on the location of the new Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station on Lonsdale Street, following backlash and outrage from members of the community.

A private meeting was held on Wednesday night at the location with Danny Bland (RSL), Kelly McNaughton (Legacy), Cr David Robertson (SGSC Mayor), Cr Albert Calvano and MP Dan Tehan (former Veterans Affairs Minister) among the people present.

The Hamilton RSL and Legacy groups had previously advocated against the “inappropriate” location of the charging station, with Wannon MP, Dan Tehan also supporting the RSL’s position.

The current location of the charging station is right next to a veteran’s memorial near the Hamilton Uniting Church, however this is set to change.

Recently there have been numerous letters published in the Hamilton Spectator opposing its location from concerned locals, many with links to the RSL or descendants of war veterans.

One letter said it had “no place in the same location as memorials erected in memory of men and women who gave their lives in defence of our region and country” and pointing to a lack of consultation from Council, called it “a desecration of the memory of our fallen”.

Council’s rationale for the charging station was that it is located on a Council-owned Road Reserve, with a high volume of traffic passing by, as well as good visibility and easy access.

SGSC Infrastructure and Sustainability director, Marg Scanlon, responded to that letter in The Spectator.

“The installation of this EV Charging Station demonstrates Council’s commitment to sustainability and, this will be the first of many charging stations to be installed in Hamilton and surrounding townships,” she said.

Cr Robertson said community discussions in the coming weeks would determine an appropriate location for the EV charging station.

“Following a notice of motion at last week’s council meeting, consultation will be undertaken with the community to determine the best location for the EV charge station in Hamilton,” he said.

“This will occur in the coming weeks once suitable alternate locations are determined and scoped.”

Hamilton RSL president, Danny Bland, was “very happy” with the outcome and said after the decision was made, it was more of a casual conversation between friends.

“My hat goes off to the mayor and the fact that he started the conversation by saying we acknowledge we put this in the wrong spot and we’re going to move it,” he said.

“They’ve recognised the fact that the EV station has encroached on what we consider to be sacred land and have agreed to move it.

“I’ll give credit where credit is due, the council have listened and done some very good grassroots politics … democracy has actually worked, the people we have elected have taken charge.”

Mr Bland said the outcome was a best-case scenario, adding that he was initially very unsure of how the meeting would play out.

“I sort of expected, well was hoping … after watching the council meeting the other day that the councillors would be on board which they were,” he said.

“I was more concerned about the power of the CEO and his team, that they would just railroad over the top.

“It’s giving a little bit of faith back in the political spectrum, I’ll admit that I was quite jaded by the whole thing … it did look for a while like it was the tail wagging the dog.

“The fact that they have listened to the people who are directly affected by this is great … my hat goes off to the mayor and the councillors, they recognised it and have taken action.”

Mr Bland wanted it made clear that the RSL and Legacy had no problem whatsoever with green energy and had actually taken steps to promote this on the back of the meeting.

“RSL has asked each of its sub-branches to sign off on a green plan, which we have signed off on and we will look at going solar at each commercial property,” he said.

“We are trying to reduce our carbon footprint for the environment.”

The installation of new plaques which could be funded by a grant was also discussed and put forward by Mr Tehan at the meeting.

Mr Bland said the RSL was currently working with Mr Tehan’s office on getting new plaques to make sure all 160 veterans in the area were recognised.

“We need plaques for East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea and Peacekeepers … we have veterans from each in our area,” Mr Bland said.