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Street lighting changeover

We are upgrading a further 1,075 street lights in a program that will replace the current lighting for energy-efficiency.

Having already replaced approximately 3,800 residential street lights that were less energy-efficient and more maintenance intensive, the next phase will be undertaken in three stages. 

The first phase will commence in June 2021, with expected completion on June 30 2021. The second stage will commence July 2021 and completion is set for December 2021. Stage 3 will commence in May 2022 and be completed by June 2022. 

Why are we doing this?

The new LED lights perform better, last longer and are between 38% and 60% more efficient than the existing lights depending on their wattage.

They will also increase compliance with the current Australian Standards in terms of safety and light levels. They will provide greater uniformity of light across and along the street and are more reliable.

Upon completion, the upgraded streetlights will save Bayside City Council and rate payers approximately $3.6 million in maintenance costs over the life of the assets.

We have worked to ensure all aspects of lighting were considered i.e. biodiversity impacts, light spill impacts, traffic safety, active and public transport safety, heritage constraints and community safety.

We have sought to control light distribution through the purchasing of light louvres (light shields) for areas indicated to be densely populated by wildlife. The LED lights installed will have less light spill and reduced lumens whilst satisfying safety requirements.

Your questions answered

The lighting upgrade works are happening in three stages across the municipality, including but not limited to: Hampton Street, South Road Nepean Highway, Royal Avenue, Cheltenham Road, Charman Road, Dendy Street, Bay street and New Street.

If you are enquiring about a particular street, please contact us directly on (03) 9599 4444.

The changeover of street lights involves a single elevated work platform with two to three crew members. It takes less than 5 minutes to replace a street light, so any disruptions to traffic flow in your street should not last long. All cars can remain parked on the streets. Works are expected to take place between 7:00am and 3:30pm. Please note, weekend work may take place when availability of staff and other factors are suitable.

The LED lights chosen by Council have been approved for use by United Energy, which is the distribution company that owns the lighting infrastructure in the municipality. The lights have been tested to ensure they meet relevant Australian Standards in regard to safety and light levels. Trial results throughout Victoria have demonstrated that they have superior performance to the existing lights.

The new lights have:

  • Greater uniformity of light across and along the street
  • Better colour rendering and visibility
  • Less depreciation of the light output over time
  • Lower maintenance costs

This project will save energy and money by:

  • Achieving energy and maintenance costs savings of approximately $3.6 million for Council over the life of the assets.
  • Reducing energy consumption by 519,134 kWh per year, which is approximately the same annual energy use as 100 average Bayside homes.

Due to the locations of the works, the impacts on biodiversity seem to be minimal. Officers identified the opportunity to pre-emptively install glare shields to prevent light spill into the Yalukit Willam (formerly Elsternwick Park) Nature Reserve. After assessment by our lighting consultants, 16 lourves/glare shields will be attached to 8 lights on the boundary of the Nature Reserve.

Whilst Council aims to maintain the integrity of the look and feel of our neighbourhoods, the new lights on major roads will produce a cooler white light than the current high-pressure sodium street lights that are a warmer yellow or orange.

The LED lights will produce a white light similar to the mercury vapor lights currently installed on residential roads.

Warmer toned lights which have a lower colour temperature have not been approved by United Energy as they have potential road safety trade-offs compared to the higher temperature lights being installed.

Yes! The recycling of old lights that are taken down during a bulk change is the responsibility of the installer. The tender for installation of the lights specifies waste disposal requirements including the recycling of around 98 per cent of the old lights.

This project is being funded by the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program.

The future of lighting in Bayside is bright, with the upgrades for street lighting and open spaces set to save the community money and energy.

The Council will also be trialling the use of smart lighting in Basterfield Park in Hampton East. The trial will assess the feasibility for use of smart lighting around the Council.

Smart lighting may allow for Council to control the dimming of lights according to seasons, times of the day, and community needs. The added flexibility of the smart lighting system may provide opportunity for more wildlife friendly lighting within Bayside in the future.

If you have any questions before or after the project has been completed, please do not hesitate to contact Council on (03) 9599 4444.