Street lighting
Council's role in street lighting
Council owns the lights and pays for their maintenance and electricity charges and monitors the performance of lighting for residents.
There are more than 11,000 public street lights within the City of Merri-bek.
The Public Lighting Policy (DOC 156Kb) provides for the design, installation, maintenance and application of public lighting throughout the city.
It aims to improve public safety, provide equity of lighting across the municipality, and ensure that public lighting meets community expectations for illumination performance, while minimising operating costs and environmental impacts.
It can be used by designers, developers, building owners, architects and planners.
Standards for lighting in streets and laneways
Council seeks to maintain light levels in existing residential streets to Australian Standard P5 - a minimum average light level of 0.07 Lux - roughly comparable to the light of a half moon on a cloudless night.
In new subdivisions, Council requires Australian Standard P4 - a minimum average light level of 0.14 Lux - roughly comparable to the light of a full moon on a cloudless night.
Council does not install lighting to protect private property or provide lights in areas where they will not operate effectively.
Under Council’s Public Lighting Policy (DOC 156Kb) and the Australian Standard, lanes do not require lighting. However, in cases where the lane attracts regular night time pedestrian or bicycle traffic, such as providing a link to a railway station or night time activity precinct, Council can consider installing lights on a case-by-case basis.
Historically, some lanes have lighting where the above criteria do not apply. Existing public lights in lanes will be removed where the lane:
- Does not provide a link to public transport;
- Does not provide for frontage to new or existing developments/dwellings or
- Is not a high pedestrian traffic area.
How to request a review of public lighting in a street
If you think lighting where you live is too dim, you can request a review by Council.
Request a review of lighting in your street online or phone Council on 9240 1111.
Officers take light readings during the darkest conditions – on a dry, cloudless, moonless night. As inspections are weather dependent, and readings can be impacted by clouds and artifical lights, it may be several months before Council officers are able to complete the inspection and get back to you with results.
If Council finds light levels in your street do not meet levels recommended by the Public Lighting Policy (DOC 156Kb), we will investigate a solution to improve the lighting levels. Generally this means putting up an additional or brighter light on an existing pole.
If an additional light is recommended, it will be ordered and paid for by Council and installed by Jemena or CitiPower. This can take up to 3 months.
Overall, a public lighting review can take up to 6 months from initial request to installation of new lamps.
How to report a faulty street light
Report a faulty street light
Two separate electricity distributors operate and maintain lights in Merri-bek on Council’s behalf.
Moreland Road forms the boundary between the two electricity supply com
panies. Contact the electricity supply company servicing your suburb.
North of Merri-bek Road
Street lights are maintained by Jemena.
Jemena faults are reported by phoning 13 16 26 or email publiclighting@jemena.com.au
South of Merri-bek Road
Street lights are maintained by Citipower.
Use the CitiPower web tool to report a faulty street light.
Alternatively, you can report the issue online to Merri-bek Council or phone Council on 9240 1111.
Report a faulty light at a railway station
If you have a concern about lights near a railway station or in a railway underpass contact Public Transport Victoria (PTV).
Submit your concerns via 1800 800 007 (6 am - midnight daily).
Report a faulty park or mall light
Moreland Council is responsible for maintaining lights in the following locations:
- parks
- Victoria Mall
- Sparta Place
- Council-managed car parks
- Council-managed facilities
- sports grounds
- community centres, and
- Maternal and Child Health centres.
Report the issue online to Merri-bek Council or phone Council on 9240 1111.
Request tree pruning making contact with a street light
If the light from a street light is impacted by trees you can request that Council prune the trees.
Request a review of lighting in your street online to Merri-bek Council or phone Council on 9240 1111.
Street lighting upgrade works
Council has now completed a bulk change over street lights from mercury vapour to LED lights. This change is part of Council's commitment to provide more energy efficient lighting solutions for the city.
The benefits of changing to LED lighting include:
- better community safety due to a 100 per cent increase in average brightness
- electricity savings of close to 80 per cent, and
- maintenance cost reductions of around 50 per cent.
Despite requiring only one fifth the power to operate, more light reaches the ground due to better design of the LED light shield and reflectors. Fixtures are designed to emit less glare than the previous mercury vapour lights.
Any additional requests for a light shield will first be reviewed by the Public Lighting officer and at the cost of the applicant.
Mercury vapour lights on roads controlled by VicRoads and the 150 watt sodium vapour orange-coloured lights found on arterial roads have not been replaced. Council is working with VicRoads to upgrade these lights in the future and as new developments in technology become available.