The City of Parramatta, in partnership with Endeavour Energy, is set to deliver the largest LED and smart streetlighting infrastructure upgrade ever undertaken in NSW, with more than 3,000 streetlights being replaced over the coming months.
Once the project is complete in April 2022, three-quarters of the City's streetlighting network will comprise energy-efficient LED lights, resulting in a saving of $6.2 million over 20 years.
"This upgrade will not only significantly reduce how much energy our City uses, which in turn will cut costs, but it will also create local jobs, make our streets and roads safer at night, and increase the reliability of our lighting network," City of Parramatta CEO Brett Newman said.
By saving 1,830 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, the project is instrumental in supporting the 60 per cent emission reduction and carbon neutral targets outlined in Council's 2017 Environmental Sustainability Strategy. It also aligns with Council's Community Strategic Plan and 'smart city' vision.
The technology used in the upgraded network will enable Endeavour Energy to respond faster to outages, as well as enable lighting levels to be programmed to match usage. The project will also incorporate circular economy principles, such as diverting old streetlights and packaging from landfill.
"These new smart LED streetlights are a huge win for the environment and a great outcome for the Parramatta community," said Endeavour Energy's Chief Asset and Operating Officer Scott Ryan.
"By utilising new technology, we are able to provide more efficient and sustainable public lighting that will improve the safety of local communities while also saving ratepayers money.
"We commend the City of Parramatta for their bold vision and look forward to working with them to power the community for a brighter future."
This program builds on upgrades undertaken between 2015-2021, in which 8,114 residential lights were replaced.
"Since 2014, Council has been working on a range of innovative ideas to become a smarter, more resilient and sustainable City. This initiative highlights how the City of Parramatta is continuing to lead the way, while helping the community recover from the impacts of the pandemic," Mr Newman said.
Senator for New South Wales, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, said the $4 million project has been funded by the Australian Government through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program. This program supports local councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia, supporting jobs and the resilience of local economies to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This major undertaking is securing our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting local jobs and cutting emissions by investing in the right technology," Senator Payne said.
The streetlight upgrade by numbers:
- 3,384 streetlights to be replaced with smart cells and energy-efficient LED alternatives
- 1,830 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved per year; about 36,600 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved during the 20-year life of the assets
- 1,892 MWh energy reduction each year
- $4 million - total project cost
- $6.2 million - savings over asset lifespan (20 years)
- 9 years - the time it will take for the project to pay for itself
