LED Street Lighting Upgrade
In 2019/2020 Shellharbour City Council (Council) upgraded 2,279 mercury vapour streetlights to more energy efficient LED lights as part of the round 1 street lighting upgrade funded by the Office of Environment & Heritage’s (OEH) Accelerated Public Lighting Program.
In 2022/23 Endeavour Energy is partnering with Council to undertake round 2 of the street lighting upgrades which will convert the remaining 3,497 streetlights to LEDs. As of May 2023, 2254 streetlights have been upgraded as part of round 2.
Key Benefits
• The new LED lights will save approximately 2,065 megawatt hours per year
• Combined greenhouse gas savings as result of Rounds 1 and 2 of the program will total approximately 1,750 tonnes of CO2-e. These savings will support Council’s net zero 2035 operational emissions target
• The street lighting upgrade will result in reduced maintenance and operating costs as well as enhanced night-time visibility for drivers and pedestrians, better rendering of colour, and reduced glare.
• The project will strive to divert as much waste from the old lamps from landfill as possible
FAQs
How will the works affect my street on the day of the installation?
The changeover of streetlights involves a single elevated work platform working from the road, with two to three crew members. It typically takes less than 10 minutes to replace a streetlight and the works are scheduled during times of low traffic, so any disruptions to traffic flow in your street should not last long. All cars can remain parked on the streets and works will not block driveway access.
An endeavour Energy Service Technician at work.
Who installs and manages the new streetlights?
Endeavour Energy, the company that owns the lighting infrastructure, will be installing the new lights on Council’s behalf. They will be liaising with Council throughout the project.
What happens to the old lights, are they recycled?
Yes! Endeavour Energy is able to recycle the majority of the old light fittings including glass, mercury, aluminium and other fixed components such as steel screws and copper wires. Council is also working with Endeavour Energy to collect a number of items for e-waste recycling including capacitors, ignitors, surge arrestors and choke boxes.
The new streetlights are brighter than the previous ones, what can I do?
When old streetlights (sometimes up to 20 yrs old) are replaced with new globes, the effect can be noticeable. Endeavour Energy as Council’s Network Provider owns the poles and wires and has been working in partnership with Council to install more energy efficient street lighting across the LGA.
Replacing old globes with newer more efficient LED globes saves energy, emissions and replacement costs. This is a positive program that has environmental and financial benefits for Councils and communities across the extended distribution network from the Central Tablelands to the South Coast.
Endeavour Energy Network Map
The Electricity Supply Act 1995 (NSW) requires Endeavour Energy to provide lighting services in accordance with the Australian/New Zealand Standard for Lighting for Roads and Public Spaces (AS/NZS 1158) (Australian Standard).
The Australian Standard sets the requirements for the design, installation, and the safe and appropriate operation of public lighting assets within the community. This includes the level of illumination to be provided by the lights, the colour temperature of the lights as well as where and how lamps and poles are to be positioned along certain sections of road (for example, at curves, bends, roundabouts, and pedestrian crossings). Neither Endeavour Energy nor local councils are responsible for setting the requirements of the Australian Standard.
When lights are first installed, they have an output which compensates for the expected reduction in light over the 20-year lifespan of the streetlight.
Following the completion of the program, Council and Endeavour Energy will continue to monitor and evaluate the upgraded streetlights in relation to existing environments and road safety impacts. Should you believe a streetlight to be a concern, please provide the relevant information under the self-assessment checklist below before contacting Council’s Customer Service team. For concerns related to construction and maintenance of streetlight poles, power supply and power outage, contact Endeavour Energy’s Customer Service team.
Street Lighting on main road.
Self-Assessment Checklist
How long ago was the streetlight upgraded?
Where is the streetlight located and what infrastructure are present? I.e. is the streetlight:
• On a main road
• On a residential street
• Over road infrastructure such as a roundabout, kerb ramp, pedestrian crossing or at an intersection
• At a bus stop
• Utilised to enhance an amenity such as a toilet block,
• Over a footpath or shared path
• Used in a location to improve safety and security, and discourage anti-social behaviour
Provide a picture of the light pole number or picture of the streetlight (see below example of light pole number).
Reason for raised streetlight concern, and any additional information which may assist with the investigation request.\
For more information, please refer to Endeavour Energy or Council’s Customer Service team.
