East Gippsland, South Gippsland and Wellington shire councils are working together to replace high energy-use streetlights with LED on existing major and minor roads.

By working together, the councils have been able to bulk buy the lights and share project management costs.

This will save ratepayers money, as will the reduced energy costs from installing approximately 5,126 high performance and energy efficient LED streetlights across the three shires.

East Gippsland’s upgrades began in Bairnsdale in late March and are progressing across the shire. The project is expected to be finished by early May. An online map will provide a live update on the status of the works.

The live installation map can be viewed on the Your Say East Gippsland website so people can track the progress of the rollout in their town.

The bulk replacement project will see a saving of approximately $9.4 million in energy and capital costs across all three councils over the lifetime of the assets. These replacements also help Council improve compliance with Australian Standards in terms of safety and light levels.

Streetlights are East Gippsland Shire Council's biggest electricity user and cost $441,858 in 2020-21 in combined energy consumption and operating, maintenance and replacement costs.

This project is made possible by each council accessing phase two of the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program. A total of $1.4 million has been allocated to East Gippsland Shire Council for this project, with Council contributing $66,500.

The LRCI program supports local councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia, supporting jobs and the resilience of local economies to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the second phase of East Gippsland’s bulk energy efficient streetlight upgrade. Two-thirds of residential streetlights were replaced in 2015, and this project aims to replace not only the remaining streetlights, but also some shared major road lighting with the Department of Transport.

The project is solving an emerging problem with the planned phase out of mercury in lighting. Council would be expected to fund the replacement cost in the coming years. The works include the compliant recycling and disposal of old streetlights (luminaires and PE cells).

For more information on this project, or if you have any questions, contact Council’s Sustainability Officer, Rebecca Lamble, on (03) 5153 9500 or visit the Your Say East Gippsland website.

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Quotes attributable to East Gippsland Shire Council Sustainability Officer, Rebecca Lamble:

“Since 1 January 2022, East Gippsland Shire Council’s electricity is supplied by 100 per cent renewable sources, including public streetlights.

“These new LED lights will perform better, last longer, and help reduce Council’s energy use.”

Quotes attributable to East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor Cr Mark Reeves:

“The project is solving an emerging problem with the planned phase out of mercury in lighting, of which Council would be expected to fund the replacement cost in the coming years.

“I commend the Council staff that worked alongside Wellington and South Gippsland shire councils to undertake this project together to save our ratepayers money.”

Quotes attributable to Hon Darren Chester MP, Member for Gippsland:

“The bulk replacement project will see a saving of approximately $9.4 million in energy and capital costs across all three councils over the lifetime of the assets. These replacements also help these council’s improve compliance with Australian Standards in terms of safety and light levels.

“The Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program is designed to support Council undertaking essential projects for the region to help improve community infrastructure, accessibility to services and appropriate facilities.”