The Northern Beaches Council has announced a plan to replace 9,300 street lights from Palm Beach to Manly. Beginning July, several residential streets in these suburbs will be switched and powered to LED lights, which should bring major environmental and economic benefits.
The street light replacement project, confirmed last February in a Council press release, is estimated to be completed within two years. It will be undertaken in partnership with Ausgrid.
Currently, residential street lights from Palm Beach to Manly are powered with mercury-formulated lights. The Council said the switch to LED will reportedly reduce carbon emission by as much as 3,000 tonnes per year.
It will also save the Council $1.7 million in energy consumption costs and maintenance for the next 10 years.
“The new LEDs are more energy efficient, easier to maintain and last up to 20 years. they also use far less energy. It can take up to 95 watts to power older streetlights whereas the new LEDs use just 17 watts,” Ausgrid said in a statement.
According to Ausgrid, the street light replacement project will bring minimal power disruption, traffic congestion, or noise to the residents. At best, replacement per post will take less than 30 minutes during regular work hours.
