Work to start on lighting up Cobden track

Published on 12 July 2023

Walkers and joggers on Cobden’s Circuit de Savage walking trail will have greater safety and flexibility day and night once more solar lighting has been installed.

Work will begin next week to install 60 new solar-powered lights along 2.7 km of the 4 km path, in addition to five installed in 2020.

They will be about 50m apart along Bond and Greyland streets and Neylon Street to Station Street.

The shared path is a popular walking loop and connects the technical school, racecourse reserve, skate park, golf club, free campground, indoor stadium, cricket ground and motel.

South Central Ward Councillor Jo Beard thanked her fellow Councillors and Council staff for their support and commitment to the project.

“This is an exciting project that has been bubbling away for several years now.

“This is going to mean a lot to the people who use this walking track. It gets so much use.

“We recently had the resurfacing done so it’s an all access track for so many people. We don’t often find that in all our communities and the Cobden community know how lucky they are to have this path.

Cr Beard gave credit to former councillor Evan Savage for the establishment of the great community asset.

“This was his vision; his baby,” Cr Beard said.

“The community in honour of him nicknamed it the Circuit de Savage and it certainly stuck.

“It’s great now that were going to have the lighting of it, not just for accessibility but for safety and security.

“It ticks all the boxes around our health and wellbeing and giving people better liveability and being able to continue on with their exercise.”

Infrastructure Projects Officer Dean Finlayson said footings would be poured in July and the poles erected in September.

“Pole heights will range from 3.5-5.5 m to maintain clearance from overhead powerlines,” he said.

“Each light will be set for the best position using an adjustable solar module to ensure maximum daily charging input, particularly on shorter winter days.

“The design allows the LED fixture to perfectly face the pathway for maximum lighting distribution.

“Pole foundations will be installed to avoid open cut drainage close to the path.

“We aim to be finished by October, weather permitting.”

At its April meeting Council awarded the $276,330 contract to contract to Melbourne-based public lighting expert Leadsun.

The project is funded by $208,440 from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program with the remainder from Council, including allowance for rising material and supply chain costs and availability of contractors.