Lights dimmed on bills

New LED streetlights in towns throughout Baw Baw Shire are expected to reduce council’s power bills for years to come and save about 365 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year.

Council secured $575,027 in funding for the project through the federal government’s $500 million Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

The program supports councils and communities to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project is the second stage of LED lighting upgrades in the shire and has replaced 1100 existing high-pressure sodium vapour, compact fluorescent, Twin T5 and high wattage mercury vapour lights on council owned streets and roads.

Mayor Danny Goss said the new LED lights performed better, lasted longer and were between 38 per cent and 78 per cent more efficient than the old lights, depending on their wattage.

He said the project was expected to drastically reduce street lighting energy use and costs. Council expects to save about $1.9 million in energy and capital costs over the 20year lifetime of the asset.

The project will reduce street lighting greenhouse gas emissions by around 5679 tonnes over a span of 20 years. This is equivalent to removing almost 1321 cars from the road over one year.

Cr Goss said residents would notice the new lights are similar in brightness to the old lights, with a more even spread of light.

He said visibility will be improved, and colours will look more natural with less glare.

The changeover works are nearing completion with works expected to be completed next month.

“This project is a great outcome for council and will deliver ongoing savings to our community throughout the lifetime of the new LED lights.

“Council is grateful for the support of the Australian Government to make this innovative project possible and we look forward to seeing the changes in our annual power consumption,” he said.

Environment Voice Advisory Committee representative Cr Peter Kostos said upgrading council’s streetlights to LEDs was originally initiated by former Cr Tony Wolfe a number years ago.

“It’s fantastic to see the results of his vision delivered in towns throughout the shire, offering significant environmental and economic benefits to our community,” he said.