Street and Public Place Lighting Policy

1. Purpose

• To provide guidelines and principles for the provision of street and public place lighting which is conducive to the safe and comfortable movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic at night and to the discouragement of illegal and anti social acts.

• To establish processes:

• Which guides the efficient and effective placement of street and public place lighting.

• For determining any required developer contributions towards the provision of new subdivision street lighting.

• To ensure a standard of lighting sufficient to reveal necessary amenity and visual information at night including the course of roadways, kerbs, footpaths, road linemarking, property lines, essential signage, road furniture, road surface imperfections as well as vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

• To promote:

• The incidence of street and public place lighting as an effective risk management practice and an effective accident counter-measure.

• An environment of public safety and security through the provision of street and public place lighting.

• To provide for:

• The provision of lighting with illumination levels appropriate to the lighting environment and generally in accordance with the Road Lighting Design Standards as nominated in the Australian/New Zealand Standard No. 1158.1.1:2005, AS/NZS 1158.3.1:2005, AS/NZS 1158.6:2004 and Public Lighting Code September 2001.

• An annual assessment and review process which identifies future street and public lighting requirements for inclusion in Council’s annual budget funding process.

• Guidelines for assessing the need and prioritisation of new lights.

• Guidelines for distinguishing the lighting needs in commercial, residential, industrial and rural areas as well as car parks, parks and reserves, and major traffic routes.

• Guidelines for the standard and types of lighting to be provided in heritage areas and other unique or specialised areas.

• Principles for the regular inspection of lighting and review of required standards.

2. Scope

This policy deals with the standards and processes to be applied when determining the provision of street and public place lighting within the Greater City of Geelong.

The policy identifies the criteria to be used when determining the type and incidence of street and public place lighting.

The policy applies to all street and public place lighting located in streets and public places under the jurisdiction of Council and within the City boundaries.

3. References

• Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1158.: 2005Road Lighting Standards

• Public Lighting Code, September 2001

• Greater Geelong City Council Planning Schemes

• Public Lighting Business Unit Procedure

• Greater Geelong City Council Urban Street Furniture and Decorative Street Lighting Style Manual

• NAASRA 1988 Guide to Traffic Engineering Practice Part 12, Roadway Lighting

• DisNet Consulting Group, June 1994, Discussion Document, Non Standard Public Lighting for Category V and Category P Road Lighting

• Local Government Act 1989

4. Definitions

• ‘Approved Non-standard Lighting’ means a non-standard fitting that complies with the distributor’s public lighting technical standards and can be placed on the non-metered distributor’s network.

• ‘Authorised Council Officer’ means a Council Officer authorised under the relevant section of the Local Government Act.

• ‘Built-up Area’ means an area consisting of roads along which there is urban development and street lighting is provided.

• ‘Distributor’ means an organisation which holds a distribution licence under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 for the distribution and supply of electricity (Powercor is its successor).

• ‘Non-standard Fitting’ means a fitting other than a standard fitting and is on a metered supply.

• ‘Public Place’ means:

1. any bridge, footpath, court, alley, passage or thoroughfare open to or used by the public; or

2. any park, garden, reserve or other place of public recreation or resort; or

3. any open place to which the public has or is permitted to have access, whether on or without payment for admittance; or

4. any wharf, pier or jetty open to or used by the public; or

5. any school or the land or premises in connection with it but does not include a highway.

• ‘Standard Lighting’ means a lamp, luminaire, mounting bracket, public lighting pole, supply cable or control equipment normally used by or acceptable to a distributor. Standard lighting is normally on a non-metered supply and the assets owned by the distributor and therefore subject to the Public Lighting Code.

• ‘Street’ means a ‘road’ as prescribed in the Local Government Act 1989.

5. Council Policy

5.1. Introduction

• Council has a legal obligation to provide a safe environment for its community. Part of this obligation relates to the provision of an environment which is conducive to the safe and effective movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic at night and the discouragement of illegal and anti social acts. Street and public place lighting is a critical factor in providing such an environment and amenity level.

• This policy is intended to provide guidance and instruction as to what standard of street lighting will be provided within the City and where street lighting will be placed and the process to be considered by Council in determining the provision of new lights.

• Council will only investigate and consider the provision of available shielding to lights where; it will not substantially decrease the level of lighting in the vicinity of the light fitting, and all practical attempts to reduce light affecting the requestee’s property have been made by the requestee to the satisfaction of Council’s Public Lighting Officer.

• Where possible the provision of street and public place lighting will be in accordance with the lighting categories contained in AS/NZS 1158.1.3: 1997 – Road Lighting Standards. These categories are:

  Category V Lighting - applicable to roads on which the visual requirements of motorists are dominant, eg, traffic routes.

  Category P (1 to 12) - applicable to roads on which the visual requirements of pedestrians are dominant.

  applicable to outdoor public areas, other than roads and streets, where the visual requirements of pedestrians are dominant.

• Council will be responsible for the cost of street and public lighting, electricity consumption and for the replacement of lamps and other luminaire parts as required in the form of an annual tariff as calculated by the distributor.

• The cost of the provision of street lighting in new subdivisions shall be recouped from the subdivision developers including all design and implementation costs.

• The cost of the provision of public place lighting associated with Council manned and controlled public places will be borne by Council.

• The cost of the provision of public place lighting associated with privately owned and controlled public places (eg, shopping centres) will be borne by the private owners.

• Security lighting be at cost to the property owner and all arrangements are to be through the electrical distributor.

• Where possible lighting will be provided to the following standards:

5.2. Residential 1, Residential 2 and Rural Living

• In residential areas served by the overhead power grid, an 80 watt mercury vapour or equivalent luminaire to be placed on every second pole after council takes into account variations in pole spacing, the need to light intersections, changes in road alignment, traffic management devices, nature strip trees and particularly dark areas.

• Where possible average light spacing in residential streets will be approximately 100 metres.

• Where residential subdivision underground power is supplied and steel Urban Residential Distribution poles are utilised, lighting shall be in accordance with the Category P road lighting standard, with standard spacing for URD poles being 55 metres.

• Where new subdivisions are designed to a particular theme or Council wishes to use non standard public lighting in a residential area of special heritage significance, lighting equipment that can be installed on the public lighting system should be used in accordance with the lighting standard for Non Standard Public Lighting for Category P Road Lighting.

• Where distributor approved non standard lighting is utilised in residential areas, the distributor is responsible for the maintenance of the lamp and photo electric cell and Council is responsible for the maintenance of luminaire and pole unless otherwise negotiated with the distributor. It is a requirement of Council that where a non-standard item is acceptable or approved by the distributor, that the Council request that the item become a standard item. To compensate for the additional costs incurred for future maintenance and replacement, Developers will be required to pay 20% maintenance levy of the total cost for the proposed non standard poles and lanterns in the subdivision.

• Although all attempts will be made to replace non standard poles and fittings with identical items, their supply or replacement may be limited or not available at all and in such circumstances a similar pole and or fitting will be installed as a first option or at least a standard pole and or fitting may be erected as the secondary option.

• In residential areas that front arterial, sub arterial or principal roads that correspond with AS/NZS Road Lighting Categories V2, V4 and V5, 150 watt HPS or Metal Halide or equivalent luminare lanterns will be used.

• Where residential allotments exceed half a hectare standard street lighting will not be considered appropriate unless there is significant pedestrian traffic.

• Where access to a rural subdivision is from a principal or arterial road lighting of the access intersection will be provided at the developer’s cost.

• Street lighting is not applicable in rural living areas except for public safety reasons or where the developer requests lighting and is willing to pay full costs.

• Council will not pay for the replacement of the overhead power grid in a residential or rural residential area with an underground service and the installation of related street lighting.

5.3. Commercial Areas

• Council will ensure the provision of effective consistent illumination such that dark areas are minimised with emphasis on safety of the travelling public. High pressure sodium lights will generally be placed on each consecutive pole other than in small commercial centres where mercury vapour lights may be utilised.

• Where an arterial road abuts a commercial area, lighting will be designed and provided to AS/NZS Road Lighting Category V1.

• In areas of special significance such as heritage, specialised retail development, cultural and civic centres, non standard public lighting in conjunction with underground cabling may be considered. The preferred option is for approved non standard lighting on the distributor’s network as distinct from separate metered supply.

• Where decorative street lighting is requested and considered appropriate Council’s urban street furniture style manual shall be consulted.

• In the Central Geelong and high profile centres metal halide lighting should be used to provide better quality lighting to improve perceptions of safety, compliment CCTV and encourage night time activity.

5.4. Major Carparks at Shopping Centres and Community Facilities

• Public lighting in these areas may include ‘watchman’ security floodlighting on electricity supply poles if considered necessary.

• Lighting will generally be designed to AS/NZS Road Lighting Category P 11 and 12.

• Approved non standard public lighting for car parks in commercial areas of special heritage significance may be considered. Approved non standard equipment that can be installed on the electricity company system will be the preferred option.

5.5. Industrial Areas

• Lighting considerations will be similar to residential areas, however guidelines may be eased when considering allotment size and frontage width at the discretion of the authorised Council officer.

• Private industrial properties will be encouraged to install their own security lighting as Council does not provide private security lighting.

• For industrial premises abutting category V roadways which have heavy vehicles entering and leaving the property, 150 watt high pressure sodium or approved equivalent lanterns will generally be considered appropriate.

5.6. Major Traffic Routes

• Cost shared lighting schemes will apply with Vic Roads contributing an amount in accordance with current agreement.

• Lighting will comply with AS/NZS Road Lighting Category V.

• Cost shared lighting schemes will apply for arterial road intersections and mid block sections of arterial roads.

• ln some instances where Common Property roads intersect with Road Reserves and traffic volumes may impact on safety at these intersections, Council will assess the need for appropriate lighting to be installed at the developers expense.

5.7. Rural Intersections

• The provision of rural intersection street lighting will be dependent on the availability of low voltage power supply and funding constraints.

• Where low voltage supply is not economically available, reflectorised night time delineation devices and solar powered lights may be considered.

5.8. Parks and Reserves

• Lighting of parks will be considered where the park is used for passive night time recreation and/or when public safety is a significant issue or when the park is used as an access from one road to another.

• Lighting of small parks may involve utilisation of ‘watchman’ security lights subject to amenity considerations for any neighbouring properties.

• Lighting of larger parks with specialty lighting may be considered as a Council capital works project.

5.9. Laneways

• Generally, consideration will be given to providing lighting at each end of a laneway, but not within laneways unless identified as a high profile area such as in Central Geelong.

5.10. It is the policy of Council:

• To consider each request for new lighting on its merits subject to the availability of funding, emerging technology and the availability of design and construction resources.

• To investigate and consider any street and public place lighting technology to promote the concepts of reduced energy consumption and green house gas emission reduction. Council’s street lighting should have regard to emerging technologies and Council’s ability to use alternative lights to reduce the use of electricity.

• To promote the use of green energy to achieve sustainable street lighting. To adopt a minimum accredited green energy component of 15% for street lighting. To review this percentage in line with Council’s Environmental Policies and affordability as required.

• To forward any public requests regarding malfunctioning street lights to the distributor. Public requests for new and improved lighting will be forwarded to the authorised Council officer for investigation. If a request warrants a minor improvement the electricity company will be requested to erect lights as required. If a request involves a major improvement the distributor or public lighting consultant may be requested to design a public lighting scheme.

6. Quality Records

Quality Records shall be retained for at least the period shown below.

7. Attachments

• Nil