New Twist In “Embarrassing” QLD EV Charger Saga

An EV charger rollout on Queensland’s Capricorn Coast halted for …odd… reasons is back in play, but now the supplier has reportedly bailed and time is running out to get the job done.

The 75-kilometre-long Capricorn Coast in Central Queensland is popular with tourists, but is one of the last coastal regions in the state without public EV charging infrastructure. This was to be addressed with the installation of a couple of chargers in Yeppoon under a sweet deal – the chosen supplier would assume all installation, operational and maintenance costs, and also pay Livingstone Shire Council an annual license fee.

But the wheels came off after Mayor Adam Belot was influenced by a 7 News Spotlight story on the use of “dirty” Indonesian nickel in EV battery production that failed to provide evidence of its accusations.  However, it was enough to get several other Councillors on side with suspending EV charger project progress at Livingstone Shire Council’s meeting on April 15.

One of the comments on a SolarQuotes post covering the EV charger kerfuffle said a local EV owners group subsequently collaborated with two Councillors who wanted the project to proceed; the result being a special meeting of Council on Thursday 24th of April to re-examine the April 15 decision.

“There will be many EV owners there in support,” said commenter Tom Sjolund. “In the meantime we have bombarded the Mayor and the other councilors [sic] with real information about EV batteries and nickel. How dare the Mayor talk about ethics when he videoed himself out at the Adani Coal mine telling us how good coal is.”

Start/Stop/Restart

The meeting last Thursday considered a Notice of Motion from Councillor Andrea Friend to rescind the resolution passed on 15 April 2025 pausing the project. That motion failed. But at the meeting, Mayor Belot formally presented and moved another motion that also proposed rescinding the April 15 decision.

The foreshadowed motion also acknowledged complex issues regarding the ethical and environmental supply chain of the electric vehicle industry. It would also commit Council to preparing a motion to be presented at the next available Local Government Association Queensland and Australian Local Government Association conferences seeking to understand the ethical and environmental outcomes within the renewable energy sector.

The motion was carried with five votes in favour and two against.

So, the project is back on again. But now there’s a new hurdle.

Charger Supplier Shies Away

The day before last week’s meeting took place, the supplier that was to deliver the EV charging infrastructure in Yeppoon formally withdrew their involvement.

“The supplier cited concerns about potential future reputational risk, as well as high Ergon tariff charges,” said Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Terry Dodds.

Council will follow up with the supplier to try and get the firm back on board. Failing that, the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority will be contacted to determine if another provider can be approached. The Authority needs to be involved as the Yeppoon project received support under the Queensland Government’s Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Co-fund Scheme, which requires all co-funded sites to be operational by 31 December 2025.

“Council acknowledges the strong interest this matter has received locally and nationally, and appreciates the community’s input,” says a media release. “Council remains committed to seeking opportunities that support sustainable transport infrastructure across the region.”

Councillor Rhodes Watson was scathing of Mayor Belot’s original Notice of Motion responsible for putting the brakes on.

“I thank the mayor for putting the Livingstone Shire on the national media last week for all the wrong reasons,” Cr Watson reportedly said.  “Your notice of motion embarrassed the whole shire.”