Frequently
Asked Questions
When will the works be taking place?
From October 2014 to November 2015.
When will the works be occurring in my area?
For a project of this size, specific works schedules are
developed on a week-by-week basis. Weather and other
contributing factors can result in delays. This website will
be updated with light installation schedules, as they are
confirmed.
How will the works affect my street on the day?
The changeover of a street lights involves a single elevated
work platform with two to three crewmembers. It takes less
than 5 minutes to replace a street light, so any disruptions
to traffic flow in your street should not last long. In most
cases, residents will be able to leave their car parked on
the street - however if residents are required to move their
cars during installation, the installers will leave a card on
the windscreen advising them of this.
I live in one of the targeted areas. How can I find out
more about the changes in my town?
To find out what’s been happening near you, visit your
municipality on the Lighting the Regions page – here you
can find out the status of works in your area, receive location
specific news as well as learn more up about upcoming
events in your neighbourhood.
Who is installing the new lights and removing the old
ones?
Powercor contractors will install and remove the lights.
They will be liaising with Council throughout the project.
Why did Council choose these particular lights?
The LED lighting system is one of only three available
energy efficient lighting options that have been approved
by Powercor, the Distribution Network Service Provider that
owns the lighting infrastructure. The lights have been tested
to ensure they meet relevant Australian Standards in regards
to safety and light levels. Trial results throughout Victoria
have demonstrated that they have superior performance
to the existing lights. The new LED lights have:
• Greater uniformity of light across and along the street
• Better “colour rendering” and visibility
• Better street safety (the LED luminaire consists of a
panel of multiple individual diodes, the entire panel is
unlikely to fail)
• Less depreciation of the light output over time
• Higher energy efficiency – up to 77% reduction in
energy use per light
• Low toxicity – no mercury; and
• Lower light spill.
Is there a spike in electricity use when the lights are
turned on?
There is no electricity spike when street lights are turned
on. This is similar to the myth regarding residential lights
– i.e. that there is such a large spike at the start that if
you’re leaving the room you should keep lights on. There
is no large spike. This is easy to test and prove with simple
power monitors.
Who makes the lights?
The LED is made by Gerard Professional Solutions, and is
assembled in Australia.
How long do the lights last?
The luminaire (the main body of the light) will last about 20
years. The photoelectric cells last 20 years and the poles
last around 35 years.
Who actually owns the lights?
The lights are owned and maintained by Distribution Network
Service Provider, Powercor.
This project received funding from the Australian Government. The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the
Commonwealth of Australia and the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Are the old lights recycled?
Yes. The Redundant lights (those removed during the
installation of the new LEDs) will be recycled by dedicated
organisations, based in Bendigo, Horsham and Mildura.
Specified waste disposal requirements 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 and other fixed components (for example,
steel screws, copper wires) are collected and ends up as
ingots used in industry.
Will all the lights in my Shire be changed with the
Lighting the Regions project?
The Lighting the Regions project will change over the
standard Mercury Vapour lamps in the project area that are
classified as ‘Category P’ lights. Category P lights are those
that light areas that are usually frequented by pedestrians.
This is mostly the lights you would see on your residential
street where there are houses. However, not all the lights
that might be found in a council area are Category P lights.
Councils and/or and Powercor may also be responsible for
decorative (or heritage) and lights that are on main roads,
which are called ‘Category V’ lights. Category V lights are
those that light areas used mostly by vehicles. At this stage,
the decorative and Category V lights do not have approved
LED alternatives that can be used for changeover and are
currently not part of the Lighting the Regions project.
Who do I call if I have any enquiries about the works?
If you have any questions about Lighting the Regions,
contact us via the website:
www. lightingtheregions.com.au/contact-us
How much is this entire project going to cost?
The Lighting the Regions project will cost approximately
11.6 million dollars. Spanning nearly half of Victoria, the
project was made possible with the assistance of more than
5 million dollars of funding from the Australian Government
and 6.5 million dollars from the local government partners
in the project. This project also has significant support from
the Wimmera Mallee Sustainability Alliance and the Central
Victorian Greenhouse Alliance.
This project received funding from the Australian Government. The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the
Commonwealth of Australia and the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.