Work to start on Lighting the Regions in Sunraysia

Published on 10 February 2022

More than 1800 street lights across the Mildura region are about to be replaced as part of Lighting the Regions Stage 2, which will slash $2.5 million from Mildura Rural City Council's operational and maintenance costs over the next 20 years.

Councillor for Environment and Sustainability Jason Modica said Powercor would be undertaking the work during February and March, converting approximately 1819 street lights in the Mildura Local Government Area to LED technology.

Cr Modica said in addition to the millions of dollars in cost savings, the project would significantly cut Council's annual electricity usage.

"This is a great initiative that has so many cost and sustainability benefits for our region," he said.

"Shaving 566 megawatt hours from our organisation's annual electricity usage will achieve one of our important energy-saving targets - cutting our street lighting electricity consumption by 15% by the middle of this year."

Cr Modica said the new LED street lights would be more reliable, and provide more consistent and better lighting than the technology they replace.

"This is yet another significant step in our journey to reduce our impact on the environment and continues our organisation's important role in leading the region's response to the climate emergency," he said.

"We've made giant strides in this regard over the past couple of years, including signing up to Australia's largest ever power purchase agreement by local government last year, the Victorian Energy Collaboration. This marked a milestone for our region, as it's meant that since 1 July last year every megawatt hour of electricity Council has used has been powered by 100% renewable energy."

There will be temporary disruptions to traffic and parking as Powercor works to replace the street lights in areas including Cabarita, Cardross, Cullulleraine, Irymple, Koorlong, Merbein, Meringur, Mildura, Murrayville, Nichols Point, Ouyen and Red Cliffs.

The $2.2 million Mildura Lighting the Regions project has largely been funded by the Australian Government through $1.63 million in Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program funding.

Lighting the Regions Stage 2 is a partnership between 11 Victorian Councils, the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, the Victorian Government and Ironbark Sustainability.

For more information contact Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Jay Smith on 03 5018 8100 or jay.smith@mildura.vic.gov.au   

ENDS