Project History and Resources

The Lake Lighting project was the top priority project identified in the Lake Wendouree Masterplan. This process included three phases of community consultation. The consultation survey received over 1,800 responses with 81.7 per cent of respondents supportive of the project and 8.8 per cent neutral. Over 480 written responses strongly supporting the project were also received. 

The  Steve Moneghetti Track is a permeable granitic sand track that is uneven in places and can hold water after heavy or prolonged rainfall. Lighting the track reduces trip and fall hazards associated with poor lighting on a track with a variable and uneven surface. 

At the February 2022 City of Ballarat Council meeting, Councillors voted to award the project tender to DeAraugo and Lea Electrical Contractors. The contract involves the supply, install and commission of 225 light poles and fittings around the Steve Moneghetti Track and supply, install and commission of 7 light poles and fittings along Morrison Street. 

The City of Ballarat received $2.5 million in funding from the State Government, which was secured via an election commitment in 2018.   

There have been three extensive phases of community consultation conducted as part of the Lake Wendouree Master Plan: 

• Community and stakeholder consultation was held in 2016 and two four-week community consultation periods were held in 2017.   

• The consultation survey received more than 1,800 responses with 81.7 per cent of these responses supporting the project and 8.8 per cent neutral. More than 480 written responses strongly supporting the project were also received.   

• An online consultation was conduct via the City of Ballarat’s mySay page in 2020.  

• This consultation was impacted at the time by COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings. A letter drop to Wendouree Parade residents also took place at the same time. 150 responses were received with the findings showing 45 per cent supporting lighting, 46 per cent did not support lighting, nine per cent were ‘unknown’ and 41 per cent were concerned about the impact to wildlife. Of the 29 responses from residents living around the lake, 48 per cent supported lake lighting, 35 per cent did not support lighting and 17 per cent were ‘unknown’.   

• The online mySay consultation again opened in the summer of 2020-21 and was coupled with the installation of trial lights which were set up to demonstrate the light poles and fittings and how they performed and functioned.    

Additionally, the Planning Permit was advertised for 21 days on site in location around Lake Wendouree and in the Ballarat Times Newspaper from 3 April 2021 to 24 April 2021. Several submissions were made during this process but a State Government change in the Planning Scheme made the project exempt from this process.   

The Heritage Victoria Permit was advertised from 28 July 2021 to 10 August 2021 both on-site at Lake Wendouree and in the Ballarat Courier. Ten submissions were received (all of which also submitted to the Planning Permit). 

Two trial lights were installed near the Olympic Rings at Lake Wendouree in late 2020. The two trial lights which demonstrate the pole style and light spill, include two pole option designs - one with a straight tapered pole and the other with a stepped pole. 

The tapered pole option has been approved through a Planning Permit and Heritage Victoria Permit. 

 The design for the Lake Lighting project has considered a range of factors including but not limited to an independent Biological Impact Assessment, an independent Arborist Assessment, a Cultural Heritage Management Plan, and a Heritage Impact Assessment. This includes not only the fittings and poles, but also the installation to minimise any impacts on the environment.

The lighting design has specifically incorporated low spill LED fittings to limit any spill and glare beyond the path and either side of the path. The spill to the path and either side of it, and the lux level, are required to meet the requirements under the Australian Standard 1158.3.1:2020 Category PP3 for Public Lighting. 

The Ligman light fittings selected for the project are accredited by the International Dark-sky Association.   The lights comply with the City of Ballarat’s Energy Efficient Public Lighting Policy 2009 which states that public lighting installations must utilise energy efficient LED lighting and consider the relevant sections of AS/NZS 1158. The selected fitting complies to this standard and the energy efficient LED lighting directive.

In-ground and low-level cross path illumination lighting was considered through the design process and subsequently not supported because these lights do not meet Australian Standard 1158.3.1:2020 Category PP3 for Public Lighting. 

The Heritage Victoria Permit was approved for the project on 2 September 2021, specifically for the lighting proposed in the Victorian Heritage Listed Botanic Garden precinct. 

This permit was advertised earlier in 2021 and considered the Heritage Impact Statement, consultation with Heritage Victoria, the Arborist Report with specific reference to Tree Protection Zones, and the how the project was to be constructed (underground boring instead of open excavation and trenching).   

The Planning Permit was approved by the Planning Delegated Committee of Council on 27 October 2021. This Planning Permit included the detailed design for the project and approved the use of the proposed light fittings and poles. 

The City of Ballarat has conducted extensive research into the impacts the Lake Wendouree and Victoria Park Link Lighting project may have on the lake and its surrounds and has explored ways of reducing those impacts. 

Download a summary of the Environmental Impact Report.

Download a summary of the Heritage Impact Report.

For more detailed information see:

• The Lake Wendouree Master Plan
• The Wendouree Lake Lighting Biodiversity Impact Assessment
• The Wendouree Lake Lighting Arborist Impact Assessment and Report
• The Wendouree Lake Lighting Heritage Impact Statement

Heritage Victoria-endorsed Lake Wendouree and Victoria Park Link Lighting plans and project documentation:

• Lake Wendouree and Victoria Park Link Lighting Tree and Construction Management Plan
• Lake Wendouree and Victoria Park Link Lighting Detailed Design part 1
• Lake Wendouree and Victoria Park Link Lighting Detailed Design part 2
• Lake Wendouree and Victoria Park Link Lighting Detailed Design part 3