Residents say no to street lighting

What’s in a name? They are important for a lot of reasons including knowing where you have to go and how to get there.

In the case of street and roads names often say a lot about a town or district’s history and people that have lived there.

Baw Baw Shire is keen to get as much local knowledge in assisting it to develop suitable names for streets, roads, reserves and other features.

It does that through its Place Names Advisory Committee comprising council and representatives.

The term of the current committee is coming to an end and council is asking for members of the public that feel they can contribute to nominate for the next four-year term.

At least four meetings are held each year.

People interested in applying should give details of any cultural or historical groups they are members of or represent.

Applications close on June 2 and further information is available from the shire’s Matthew Driessen on 5624 2411.

Millenium Crt, Drouin residents told Baw Baw Shire Council they did not want street lights intruding on their rural outlook and night sky.

After receiving a petition in February from 14 residents complaining about insufficient lighting in the court, council instructed officers to prepare a report.

But council last week decided not to install additional lights in Millenium Crt after three residents told council the lights would ruin the rural atmosphere of the court which was why they purchased houses in the court.

Doug Walton told council he loved the night sky and there was currently nothing that impeded that view.

“That is one of the reasons we moved to Drouin. I strongly object to lights in the street and I strongly object to paying for them,” he said.

Another resident, Aaron Kreun, said none of the courts off Waddell Rd had street lights. “That’s one of the things we liked about it.”

Keith Lane told council street lights would be an invasion of their privacy and they did not want street lights shining through the windows.

“It will just ruin the whole area,” he said.

A report to council said Millenium Crt was zoned low density residential and there were 20 lots with 90 per cent occupancy.

The cost to install three 18W LED lights would be about $10,000. It was proposed a special charge rate scheme would be imposed on residents, requiring them to pay $555 each to cover cost of the lights.

Officers wrote to 18 residents to determine their preferences and willingness to contribute to the cost.

Officers reported that 12 residents responded of which five supported additional lighting and seven were opposed.

“Survey results indicate that the majority of the residents in Millennium Crt are not in favour of installing the additional LED street lights. The major concern of residents was the cost of the lighting installation and that the additional street lighting is not commensurate with their rural lifestyle,” the report said.

Cr Michael Leaney said there were no street lights in Walhalla until 1998 and he loved every bit of it.

“There is a beauty about seeing the stars and night sky.

“There is no footpath in MIllenium Crt so people wouldn’t be walking around. Perhaps the people who wanted them were trying to keep up with the Jones’.

“But to keep the rural amenity, it should be maintained as it is,” he said.

Cr Danny Goss said he was happy to listen to what the residents said and not install lightning.