The Northern Beaches Council has endorsed the outcome of an Expressions of Interest (EOI) process for charge point operators, marking a critical step towards expanding public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the local precinct.
As demand for electric transport continues to surge, the initiative aims to increase the availability of convenient and accessible public charging facilities for both residents and visitors traversing the region, from the Spit Bridge up to the Harbour and Hawkesbury borders.
In Short
- Network Expansion: The local council has formally endorsed an Expressions of Interest (EOI) process to expand public EV charging infrastructure.
- Identified Locations: Up to 50 key charging locations have been identified across the Northern Beaches to support the growing demand.
- Future Growth: The region is projected to exceed 33,000 electric vehicles by 2030, necessitating immediate infrastructure upgrades.
Mayor Sue Heins noted that expanding the public network is essential to support the community’s transition to sustainable transport.
“As more residents and visitors make the switch to electric vehicles, we need convenient and accessible places for them to charge,” Mayor Heins said. “For the current EOI, Council has identified up to 50 key EV charging locations for our growing network. We have also selected several potential installation operators who may suggest additional locations when they submit their proposals.”
The expansion of the charging network aligns directly with the Council’s broader sustainability objectives and seeks to ensure the Northern Beaches remains an accessible destination.
The local impact of this transition is already highly visible. As of October 2026, the Northern Beaches has over 7,700 registered EVs and more than 1,300 plug-in hybrid vehicles. Projections from the CSIRO indicate the area will house over 16,000 EVs by 2028, and a staggering 33,000 by 2030.
Currently, the Northern Beaches precinct contains 86 publicly available chargers. On local council land, there is a mix of 18 Level 2 AC and Level 3 DC charging locations. Beyond the council-approved sites, there are 24 commercial fast chargers located at 12 different sites, including local shopping strips, alongside 44 commercial destination charger plugs spread across 42 different locations.
The move to secure up to 50 additional sites is expected to alleviate pressure on existing infrastructure and provide residents with greater confidence when travelling locally.
Charger Types Explained
- Level 2 Chargers: Alternating current (AC) units with a charge range from 7kW to 22kW.
- Level 3 Chargers: Direct current (DC) fast chargers with a charge range of 25kW to 350kW.