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Street Lighting Policy

Version 2.2

1. Background

Decorative poles and fittings in the non-metered public lighting system are not supported under the standard Operation, Maintenance & Replacement (OMR) tariff and incur significantly higher costs to Council for maintenance and replacement.

Previously approved decorative poles and fittings now present as a significant future funding liability of the order of $9 million to $12 million and do not facilitate cost effective bulk conversion programs to the latest technology. The continued allowance of decorative poles and fittings under the current regulatory conditions is unsustainable for Council.

The level of fees required to be charged to developers by Council to cover the additional costs of decorative poles and fittings compared to the standard unit is also likely to negatively impact on housing affordability of new estates.

2. Policy

New estate street lighting shall be designed taking advantage of the most energy efficient lantern for the respective conditions as approved by the Distribution Business (DB) and the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).

All new street poles and fittings including decorative styles must be approved by DB’s and the AER to be maintained under the regulated OMR tariff at no additional cost to Council.

Council reserves the right to limit the use of any decorative lighting pole or fitting options that may in the future be approved by the DB and AER; particularly should these future options incur a higher OMR tariff compared to a standard pole or fitting. Council reserves the right to use decorative or alternative street lighting outside of this policy in prominent high community value areas such as town centres.

3. Transition Strategy

New estates shall use standard street light poles and fittings that have been approved by DB’s and the AER for inclusion under the standard OMR tariff. Estates under development with an existing permit approval will be allowed to complete the specific approved stages under the previous policy arrangements. In these circumstances the decorative poles and fittings must match the existing styles in the immediate area otherwise standard poles and fittings must be used.

Any new permit approval will need to comply with this policy with the exception that decorative poles or fittings will be permitted to transition the interface between the existing estate stage and the new development. The transition area should take into account local estate layout issues and should occur at a defined boundary such as a significant intersection, a connector level street, major road, or an open space linkage.

Where possible, any decorative lighting style installed should use energy efficient technology in equivalent decorative styles to the current lighting installed in the immediate area.

New permit approvals allowing transition decorative poles or fittings will require payment of a fee reflecting one replacement cycle as listed in Table 1 and updated from time to time by Council through its annual Fees and Charges review.

Table 1 – Transition Decorative Lighting Fees

Pole Height Supply cost $ Freight cost $ Total            cost $
Shorter than 6.5m $1 300 $250 $1 550
6.5m to 8.5m $ 2 00 $250 $2 450
Higher than 8.5m $3 500 $250 $3 750

*Costs based on cost of Promenade Style Pole

4. Administrative Updates

It is recognised that, from time to time, circumstances may change leading to the need for minor administrative changes to this document. Where an update does not materially alter this document, such a change may be made administratively. Examples include a change to the name of a Council department, a change to the name of a Federal or State Government department, and a minor update to legislation which does not have a material impact. However, any change or update which materially alters this document must be by resolution of Council.

5. Review

The next review of this document is scheduled for completion by 30 June 2022.

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