FAQ

In the past, a general approach was applied to the management of road lighting in Maroondah. Typically, overhead streetlights were installed on every second power pole along roads in urban areas, and a different approach was taken to lighting in reserves and car parks.

Without a uniform framework, lighting schemes at these locations varied significantly from one site to the next. With increasing attention on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, past approaches to public lighting are being replaced by schemes that make better use of energy resources; minimise the impact lighting has on the environment; and produce superior safety and amenity outcomes. 

This policy will support a consistent approach being applied to the development, installation and maintenance of public lighting in Maroondah. 

Maroondah City Council set a corporate goal during 2008 to achieve carbon neutrality by 2020. This goal is reflected in Council’s Carbon Neutral Strategy & Action Plan 2014/15 – 2020/21, which identifies actions to be taken by Council as it strives to become carbon neutral.

As most greenhouse gas emissions are released through burning of fossil fuels for energy production, energy efficiency measures will play a key role in reducing our carbon footprint. In 2013/14, around 37 percent of Council’s total greenhouse gas emissions was attributable to street lighting alone; this represents around 5,380 tonnes of carbon dioxide entering our atmosphere each year. When carbon emissions attributable to other public lighting – such as sports grounds – is added to this figure, the impact is even greater. 

Council has been systematically replacing energy-intensive mercury vapour and incandescent lighting with more efficient light emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent alternatives, which are estimated to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from the 2010/11 baseline year.

Council is now in the final phase of its bulk changeover program, which will see around 5,720 streetlights replaced with high efficiency LED alternatives.

Consultation data gathered through the development of Maroondah 2040: Our future together during 2013 and 2014 underscores the value that our local community places on public lighting and the contribution it makes to the achievement of our future vision for the municipality.

In developing this community vision, community members placed great importance on:

• safety and accessibility of public spaces in Maroondah
  
• public transport and the availability of sustainable transport modes that offer viable alternatives to the car. 
• The need for infrastructure to support walking and cycling in urban neighbourhoods 

Effective and efficient public lighting Policies plays an important role in addressing these key issues:

• contributing to the safety and accessibility of public spaces
• Providing opportunities to support the use of sustainable transport options through the installation of public lighting schemes that facilitate access to transport nodes
• increasing visitations at reserves and open spaces with the potential to creating vibrant activity centres over extended hours.