Melbourne street lighting changeover program

Roughly 240existing 80-Watt mercury vapour streetlights will be replaced with energy efficient LED luminaires, which are roughly 85% more energy efficient.

These new streetlights will also increase lighting quality, with more light being directed toward the ground where it is needed instead of into the sky. Energy efficiency is a key element to reducing greenhouse emissions, upgraded LED lighting will deliver an approximate reduction in energy consumption of around 63.5%. The project will reduce CO2 emissions for the City of Melbourne by about 8,000 tonnes per year.

The Project

Works on the street lighting installation will be completed across the local areas, shown on the map below.

Map of works

FAQS

When will the works be taking place?

Street lighting will be converted from November 2021 until December 2022.

How will the works affect my street on the day?

The changeover of a streetlight involves a single elevated work platform with two to three crew members. It takes less than 5 minutes to replace a streetlight, so any disruptions to traffic flow in your street should not last long. Each light will take around 10 to 15 minutes from when the crew arrives up to when it moves to the next light.

Who actually owns the lights?

The lights are owned and maintained by CitiPower.

Who is installing the new lights and removing the old ones?

CitiPower’s subcontractor OMEXOM will install and remove the lights. They will be engaging with Council throughout the project.

Why did Council choose these particular lights?

The lighting system was selected following a tender process and has been approved by distribution business CitiPower, the distribution company that owns the lighting infrastructure. 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; and
• Less depreciation of the light output over time.

Who makes the lights?

The lights are made by Sylvania Schreder. They are assembled in Australia.

How long do the lights last?

The luminaire (the main body of the light including the LED light source) will last about 20 years. The poles last around 35 years.

Are the old lights recycled?

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 specified waste disposal requirements, which include the recycling of around 98% of the old lights.

For example:

• The glass collected is recycled into products such as glass wool insulation
  for homes.
• The mercury is distilled and reused in the dental industry to manufacture
  amalgam.
• The aluminium body is collected and end up as ingots used in industry.

Who do I contact if I have any further enquiries about the works?

For more information call us on 1300 301 101.