$2 million to LED streetlights in the 2021/22 Draft Budget as part of Council’s drive towards carbon neutrality

The City of Ballarat will invest $2 million, made up of $500,000 in 2021/22 and $1.5 million carried over from the current budget, into the installation of LED (light emitting diode) streetlights across the municipality’s minor roads network as part of the 2021/22 Draft Budget.

The 2021/22 draft budget includes a range of climate action and emissions reduction initiatives, including $250,000 towards the progression of a business case for a Materials Recovery Facility, $500,000 towards street trees to support Council’s long-term commitment to double the tree canopy across Ballarat by 2040 through the Urban Forest Action Plan, and $10,000 to begin development of a Net-Zero Community Emissions Plan.

City of Ballarat Councillor  Belinda Coates said the change to LED streetlights was an example of Council taking action locally to demonstrate enhanced sustainability practices.

The upfront investment will deliver an estimated $9.8 million in energy cost savings for the City of Ballarat over 20 years, and a saving of 2,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

“The $2 million funding in our 2021/22 Draft Budget is a flagship action of the City of Ballarat’s Carbon Neutrality and 100% Renewables Action Plan and aligns with our strategic commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change ,” Cr Coates said.

“The new 17 watt LEDs are about 80 per cent more efficient than the old 80 watt mercury vapour lights which account for 95 per cent of the lights to be replaced.”

“This means better performance, significant energy and cost savings and reduced carbon emissions.”

Cr Coates said the City of Ballarat was continuously exploring ways to improve operations to reduce energy use and meet the community’s expectations on climate action and emissions reduction.

Last week the City of Ballarat was announced as one of 46 Victorian Councils to sign on to the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO), the largest ever emissions-reduction project by local government in Australia.

The city’s facilities and streetlighting will be powered through the VECO project by clean energy from Victorian wind farms for the next nine and a half years.

How to Have Your Say on the 2021/22 Draft Budget

The 2021/22 draft budget is now live on the City of Ballarat website, and we want to hear your feedback. Submissions received will help shape this and future City of Ballarat budgets.

If you’d like to share your thoughts, you have a few options. Go to mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au, click on the draft budget link, fill out the quick online form and submit. Or you can send a submission clearly marked “Draft Budget 2021/2022  via mail to PO Box 655 Ballarat Vic 3353, or email to governance@ballarat.vic.gov.au. Submissions must be received before 9.00 am on Monday 7 June 2021.