Mingara Recreation Club Reaping the Benefit of Electric Vehicle Chargers

Q: What was the decision process to get an electric vehicle (EV) charger installed at the Club?

Sarah Ferman: We always pride ourselves on being progressive and minimising our environmental footprint. EVs are more common now and growing in numbers, so we wanted to provide EV charging stations as a convenient service for our members and the local community. We're  in a unique position between Sydney and Newcastle, and we get a lot of visitors e who stop in at the Club, too. We are also building a hotel, so having guests stay at Mingara in the very near future meant we needed to ensure we had this facility available within the Mingara destination. 

Q: Can you tell us about the application process?

SF: We found the application process easy to navigate and didn’t take a lot of time to complete. None of us are professional grant writers and as a registered club we are a not-for-profit organisation, so we look for funding grants that can enhance our  facilities for the community and visitors. 

Q: Did the grant program prompt the decision to get the charger, or was it something you were going to do anyway?

SF: It was a bit of both, it's something that's been in our planning, however the grant opportunity prompted us to move quicker. The grant funding and process certainly moved the project forward for us.

Q: How was the installation process?

SF: We are fortunate that we have relationships with great contractors who understand our facilities. At Mingara we also have a large car park, so it made the installation much easier with the available space.

“People have said that they've stopped in at the Club because we offer the EV chargers”

Q: What did you anticipate usage was going to look like for the chargers? Did you have any idea?

SF: We didn’t have much information on usage, however we could see charging stations being installed across our local area. We knew in regional areas the adoption of new technology is a little slower, so in terms of the number of users that we had on site we were a little bit unsure. We didn't have a target in terms of usage, but we were mindful that we wanted to have the technology available for members, visitors and our community. We also tested the market by creating a promotion with a Tesla as a prize. It was a great way to test interest around electric vehicles in our community. It was a nice way to introduce our members to the EV charging station service also. 

Q: What has the reaction been from members? Have you had much feedback from the community?

SF: We have had great feedback from the community and a lot of questions. Questions have been curious around ‘what is it, how does it work?’ So, yes, it has created some member engagement and conversation. Some of our team also have electric cars, so they’re feeling like they’re working for a progressive organisation and are excited to have the service here also. As I mentioned earlier, we have members and guests who have travelled from Sydney to Newcastle and have been able to use the charging facilities when they have stopped in and had lunch. It’s a nice by-product of putting in something like this where you can see the benefits to some of our members or visitors straight away. Mingara has such a broad range of facilities, so people are able to enjoy the facilities and charge their vehicle while they spend a few hours here. 

Q: Have you seen new visitors as a result of the charger being installed?

SF: Yes. Feedback from our member engagement team at the Club’s welcome desk has let us know that people have said that they've stopped in at the Club because we offer the EV chargers. So that's been positive.

Q: Any other benefits?

SF: It's important for us to feel like we continue to focus on minimising our environmental footprint. We have specifically looked for grants that have shared that alignment and vision. I think that's nice that we've been able to work together on that project.

Q: How frequently has the charger been used?

SF: We have some data and continue to monitor it. So far it is indicating growth in usage. We will continue to look for ways we can increase awareness of the EV charging stations so we are known as a ‘go to’ venue for EV drivers. To assist EV drivers, we recently purchased charging cables, based on feedback received from users. These cables are now available at our welcome desk so EV drivers can borrow them. 

Q: How did you find out about the grant?

SF: We keep an eye on grants through various websites and subscriptions to newsletters so we can understand what might be relevant to us and available. If we feel there’s an opportunity to apply for a grant that will enhance our facilities or meet a community need, then we will apply.

Q: What would you say to any clubs that are considering installing an EV charger on their sites?

SF: It’s becoming an expectation in the community, so I’d encourage other clubs to do it. Yes, there is some work just in understanding the grant process, however we found that really quite easy to navigate. For Mingara, there's been no negatives and its proving to be a great benefit for members and visitors on the site.

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?

SF: Just thank you. I think it's important that the government provides these opportunities. It certainly made us move the project forward and our members and the community are now reaping the benefits of that. So thank you to the NSW Government for the opportunity and for assisting us in providing this service for the Central Coast community.