Darebin City Council has received confirmation of a $1.85 million Australian Government funding grant to implement its energy efficient street lighting project, The Darebin Green Light Program.

“We are thrilled to have been granted $1.85 million in Australian Government funding for this large scale project which will deliver outstanding benefits to our community,” said Darebin Mayor Cr Tim Laurence.

The federal funding which has been offered though the Australian Government’s Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP) which will be matched by $2.5 million funding from Darebin Council over the next three years to implement the lighting project, estimated to cost a total of $4.35 million.

CEEP is providing $112 million in grants to 170 local governments and non-profit community groups for energy efficiency upgrades such as lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning. These grants will improve the energy efficiency and amenity of council and community use facilities, including museums, aquatic and leisure centres, community clubs and town halls.

Cr Laurence said the project makes great financial sense as the savings (from electricity and maintenance costs) are expected to pay back over double the investment.

“With the grant funding Council’s investment is repaid in just over five years – with another 15 years of savings accumulating to Council and ratepayers.”

The project involves Council replacing Darebin’s 10,000 inefficient 80W Mercury Vapour street lights with energy efficient lights, which will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by around 3,800 tonnes, reduce energy and maintenance charges, and improve the quality of street lighting.

Street lighting in the City of Darebin is responsible for around 8,800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, which is 65% of the total greenhouse emissions that Council reports against as part of its greenhouse gas reporting framework. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from street lighting is a key action from Council’s Climate Change Action Plan to achieve its target for achieving carbon neutrality by 2020.

Cr Laurence said the project pays the Darebin community a double dividend.

“It rewards us with cost savings and it reduces our carbon gas emissions. It lets us take a great leap forward towards our target to become a zero emissions council.”

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