Changing streetlights in Colac Otway Shire to energy–efficient alternatives could save the council up to $70,000 a year.
The Great South Coast group of councils has received a $1.4 million grant from the Federal Government for the project, and Colac Otway has committed to funding a $278,000 shortfall for the project caused by the Victorian Government’s axing of the Green Light Plan.
A report to Council’s July meeting recommended that spreading the cost across four years, starting in the 2013–14 financial year, should fund the shortfall.
Chief Executive Officer Rob Small said the potential savings from the program were significant.
There are 1320 streetlights in Colac Otway Shire, most of which are 80 watt mercury vapour lamps, with almost 8000 streetlights across the entire Great South Coastal region.
“This project will have paid for itself within four to five years, and also reduces Council’s exposure to rising electricity costs,” Mr Small said.
“Changing to more efficient street lights will also reduce Council’s carbon emissions by about 15 percent, or 500 tonnes annually, and will be a meaningful step towards Council’s target to become carbon neutral by 2016.”
Mr Small said the Street Smart Lighting Program had the potential to be one of the largest sustainable infrastructure projects the region had experienced. By 2030, the Great South Coast group of councils will have saved almost $10 million.
“Other benefits of installing energy–efficient lamps include better colour rendering and visibility, lower glare, greater uniformity of lighting across residential streets, and less depreciation of light output over time,”
Mr Small said.
Mr Small said a newly elected Council would be briefed on the available options for covering the funding shortfall towards the end of 2012.
The project will be managed by the Great South Coast group of councils under the auspices of the South West Sustainability Partnership.
