Federal funding for energy efficient street lighting upgrade

Published on 27 November 2020

Over 1200 energy-efficient LED streetlights will be installed across Baw Baw Shire over the current financial year.

Council secured funding for the $575,027 project through the Australian Government’s $500 million Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, which supports Councils and communities to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This project will be the second stage of upgrades in Baw Baw Shire and will replace existing high-pressure sodium vapour, compact fluorescent, Twin T5 and high wattage mercury vapour lighting on Council owned streets and roads.

When complete, the project is expected to save about 365 tonnes of greenhouse gases emissions per annum.

Council completed first stage of the project in 2016, replacing 2,685 mercury vapour streetlights across the Shire to the most energy efficient LED lighting. The upgrade has resulted in annual savings of $180,000. The next stage of the project is expected to result in a further annual saving of $125,000 and reduce energy usage by up to 57 per cent.

The changeover works will be undertaken by approved AusNet Services contractors using a single elevated work platform with two to three crew members. It takes less than five minutes to replace a streetlight so disruptions are minimal, and cars can remain parked on the street.

The new lights will be similar in brightness to the old lights, but the light will spread more evenly along the footpath. Visibility will be improved, and colours will look more natural with less glare.

Quotes attributable to Mayor Cr Danny Goss

“The new LED lights will perform better, last longer and will be more than twice as efficient as the existing lights. The funding from the Federal Government will allow Council and AusNet Services to complete the project and ultimately deliver ongoing savings for the community.”