Shire amps up its funding for streetlight LEDs

THE Surf Coast Shire will tip in $100,000 of extra funding to complete upgrading of street lighting to LED technology across the municipality.

Councillors resolved at their February meeting to increase the existing funding for its LED streetlight program to complete the project earlier.

This extra funding enables the council to enter an agreement with Powercor for the work to install LED lights in the majority of street lights across the shire.

Street lights are the shire’s biggest energy user but conversion to LEDs will reduce carbon emission output by 33 per cent and operating costs by about $100,000 a year, meaning the initial project outlay will be covered in six years.

The shire started its light replacement program in 2017-18 in Jan Juc and half of Torquay and will continue in remaining areas of Torquay, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne, Winchelsea and Moriac.

“We are pleased to be moving forward with this important work as we continue to strive for environmental gains in all of our operations,” Torquay Ward councillor and Renewable Energy Taskforce member Martin Duke said.

“As a result, people can expect improved, cheaper and more reliable lighting throughout residential areas and at major intersections.

“LED lights have a longer working life, more uniform light spread and higher colour rendition, meaning improved safety and hazard identification for motorists and pedestrians.”

The extra $100,000, from unallocated cash reserve, will be added to the $472,504 remaining in allocated budget for the program.