Palmerston will gleam more sustainably when Council switches to energy-efficient LED lighting, as decided at tonight’s ordinary meeting.

4,000 street lights, and 700 park and pathway lights throughout Palmerston, will be replaced as part of Council’s $3.65million Accelerated Smart LED Street and Public Lighting Replacement Program.  

Smart LED luminaires will replace existing lights and are significantly more energy efficient.

Smart controls will also be fitted, which will allow Council to manage the lighting in real time through software, which will know whether each light is operational when fixed, provide asset management and maintenance data, and remotely dim or brighten lighting.

By implementing this project, Council will see an estimated annual saving of $650,000 in current electricity and maintenance costs. Estimated energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by more than 64%, the equivalent of planting more than 500 hectares of Australian forest trees. 

City of Palmerston Mayor, Athina Pascoe-Bell has welcomed the project.

“The replacement program will transform our City. It is one more step in Council’s commitment to create a more sustainable environment for our community. LED lighting will improve lighting reliability and overall lighting quality, which will improve safety in Palmerston, and increase maintenance savings as well as energy efficiency gains.” 

Installation will commence in 2019, older suburbs being highest priority, with an expected city-wide completion period of two years.