The $1.5 million Future City 'Whiteway' project, an upgrade of footpath lighting in Summer Street, has been turned on for the first time.
Council and community leaders were on hand on to see the automatic lights switch on for the first time on Friday night (30 October).
LIGHTING: Community leaders gather to watch the CBD's new footpath lights come on for the first time. Pictured in Summer St on Friday night are (l.to r.) Member for Orange Phil Donato, Technical Services Director Ian Greenham, Upper House MP Sam Farraway, Infrastructure Committee chair Cr Jeff Whitton and Orange Mayor Reg Kidd.
Part of the Future City CBD upgrade, 3.5-metre-high poles with energy-efficient LED lighting have been installed about every 13.5 metres along both sides of Summer Street, from Sale Street to McNamara Street.
The Summer Street stage of the Whiteway project was funded by Orange City Council $800,000 and the NSW Government's Stronger Country Communities Fund $700,000. Lights in the Anson Street stage of the Whiteway project were turned on last week.
Mayor Reg Kidd is impressed with the impact of LED technology.
"These super-efficient lights last longer and use much less power. The small grey-coloured cap on each light contains a photo-electric cell which detects when sunlight has dropped triggering the lights to turn on," Cr Reg Kidd said. "It also includes the smart functions which let the lamp be controlled remotely. They can also be dimmed or changed to a blue colour."
"In partnership with Essential Energy we're also gradually switching all of our street lights around town, over to the low-energy use LED lighting. The benefits will be immediate with a savings of about $500 thousand per year in electricity and operating costs," Cr Kidd said.
Orange City Council Infrastructure Policy Committee chair Cr Jeff Whitton has welcomed the completion of the project.
"Contractors JLE Pty Ltd excavated trenches in the footpath on both sides of Summer Street to install cables for the new lights," Cr Jeff Whitton said. "There are always potential challenges when you're digging in an area with so much history and potential layers of past development. We aimed to do the work at night to minimise the impact for local businesses but I'd like to thank our retail sector for their patience."
"As well as laying the cable for the new lights, we taken the trouble of installing an extra conduit for future Council use."
NSW Upper House MP Sam Farraway said the project showed the practical impact of the NSW Government's Stronger Country Communities Fund.
"The $400million Stronger Country Communities Fund has made over 1,000 projects across the state of NSW a reality for regional and rural communities, including projects across the
electorate of Orange.
"This fund is made to support grass roots projects like the extension of the ANZAC Park Netball Courts and the new Youth Hub these projects make a difference to people in our
regional communities and it is great to be able see them come to life, and in tonight's case, 'turn on'."
Member for Orange Phil Donato welcomed the completion of the lighting project.
"This is a project which I threw my support behind, and I'm pleased to see it's now being delivered," Mr Donato said.
"Our city is becoming increasingly popular with visitors, who are keen to experience the rich social experience we have to offer. The new adjustable lighting will enhance the nightscape
of Orange, while delivering significant energy cost savings for ratepayers.
"Enhancement in street lighting is also beneficial for the safety of those who are out enjoying our nightlife, which is an important aspect of this CBD lighting project," Mr Donato said.
Future stages of the Whiteway project will see the lights extended further along Summer Street to eventually cover from Hill Street to William Street, as funding becomes available.
With the new footpath lights now operating, contractors JLE will now begin cutting the power to the former fluorescent under-awning lights. The remaining tubes will be removed for
recycling.
