Energy Efficient Street Lighting Under The Spotlight

Published on 26 February 2018

In-principle support has been given for Snowy Valleys Council’s participation in a large street lighting project known as Southern Lights.

At their February meeting Council resolved to support the creation of a business case for bulk street light replacement with LED lighting in relation to the Southern Lights project proposal.

Mayor James Hayes said LED lighting would reduce the Council’s CO2 footprint and save about 1GWh a year in electricity.

“In order to continue to deliver community expectations we must look to make sensible savings where we can,” Clr Hayes said.

The Northern Lights Project proposal, coordinated by Regional Development Australia Northern Inland and funded by the Australian Government indicates that the project would see the replacement of approximately 70,000 street lights across 38 Local Government Areas covering almost all of southern NSW.

“Significant advances have been made in the years since some of our original lighting was installed,” Clr Hayes said.

“If the project goes ahead we will be replacing last century’s technology with 21st century tech.”

Council General Manager Matthew Hyde said public lighting accounts for one-third of the Council’s annual electricity bill and is a large part of its greenhouse gas emissions.

“This is a sustainability project for Council.  There are so many benefits to LEDs – everything from less glare, to lower running costs and less maintenance,” Mr Hyde said

The Southern Lights project report states that transitioning existing street lighting services to LEDs results in a highly-efficient, environmentally friendly, low cost and superior amenity service.

The proposal also includes the provision of smart technologies for improved operations and maintenance including the potential for other services such as public Wi-Fi and water meter reading.

“The greater use of LED technologies will reduce the maintenance costs and the energy consumption of street lights, which in turn results in savings for ratepayers,” Mr Hyde said.

“Smart technology makes for smart cities.”

For more information on the Southern Lights Project proposal please contact Council Director Assets and Infrastructure Matt Christensen on 6941 2525 or [email protected]