SOUTH Australia’s sole electricity distributor has flagged an overhaul of around 2300 street lights in Mount Gambier in a proposal expected to deliver energy savings to City Council.
Council is yet to rubber-stamp the proposal, which would see new LED lights introduced across the city’s street light network and could save council $70,000 per year.
The city-wide project is expected to be discussed in the coming months by elected members, with discussion surrounding the proposal reignited by councillor Paul Jenner last month after the previous council considered a similar proposal.
According to Cr Jenner, under the proposal SA Power Network would replace lights around the city with Smart LED lights as part of a deal between the Local Government Association (LGA) and SA Power.
Around 2300 lights are planned to be replaced with Cr Jenner expressing the opportunity as “great for the city”.
“We have been working for four months alongside LGA and SA Power Network so this can happen,” Cr Jenner said.
Cr Jenner – who along with Cr Kate Amoroso and council infrastructure manager Nick Searle met with SA Power Networks in Adelaide last week to discuss the project – said the LED lights would reduce electricity use.
“The street lights here at the moment are 17 watts, but the ones installed will be three watts,” Cr Jenner said.
The new LED lights will allow council to control the percentage of light generated across the system.
“This way council are able to save power as well as the money from the lights,” Cr Jenner said.
Cr Amoroso has also backed the proposal, saying the reduction in council’s carbon footprint would be significant.
“Alongside reducing electricity costs for the city, these new LED lights will reduce council’s carbon footprint which is extremely important,” Cr Amoroso said.
Council is expected to debate the proposal within the financial year.
