Warrnambool City Council’s streetlights are provided and maintained by Powercor. They play an important part of creating a safer environment for road users and pedestrians in our community. Council has the following types of streetlights in Warrnambool:
1. Residential Streetlights
Powercor is responsible for all streetlight maintenance and faults. If you are a resident wanting a streetlight repaired, you can contact Powercor directly and report street lighting faults or request repairs online at https://publiclighting.portal.powercor.com.au/PublicLightFault
For any non-urgent enquiries you can contact Powercor online at https://www.powercor.com.au/contact-us/non-urgent-maintenance-form/
For any urgent enquiries you can contact Powercor online at https://report.portal.powercor.com.au/outages/s/ or by phoning Powercor on 13 24 12.
2. Council Lighting
Warrnambool City Council has several different lighting schemes. We have a significant fleet of roadside solar lighting, and bollards have been installed along pathways in some areas. Lighting is also located in carparks, on buildings and commercial areas.
Warrnambool City Council is responsible for the majority of the lights located in reserves, including sports lighting.
3. Highway and major road intersection lights
The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) are responsible for repairing lights on arterial roads located within Warrnambool.
Street Lighting Standards
The provision of street lighting is done in accordance with Australian Standard AS/ANZ 1158 – Lighting for Roads and Public Spaces.
Brightness
Sometimes the brightness of streetlights can create an amenity concern for a resident when the public lighting spills into a residence causing nuisance. Known solutions for addressing excessive light spill are:
• There are standards for public lighting. Council can investigate and if these are being exceeded it may be possible to reduce the strength of the light.
• The resident installing a more effective block out blind or curtain to the impacted windows. An external awning or blind can also provide further protection in some instances.
• In some instances, a shield can be installed on a standard streetlight to limit an area of light spill. A shield is a plate or guard that creates a shadow. It is not always possible to shield a light to effectively shadow a window or make the general area darker. Shields are not manufactured or available for decorative streetlights. Installation of a shield does not guarantee rectification of a light spill issue.
Newly developed areas have streetlights closer together reflecting modern standards which provide for more even light spread. This avoids patches of light and dark which can be less safe as our eyes try to adjust to the variable bright spots, causing reduced visibility. Overall, new estates are brighter at night than older areas.
Request of shield for a streetlight
Shielding will only be considered where the impact is on bedrooms or other habitable rooms of occupied residences. Light shields cannot be fitted to lights on the opposing side of the road to the residential property.
If you believe a streetlight shield is required to reduce lighting glare on your property, please contact Council via email at contact@warrnambool.vic.gov.au.
Please tell us:
• Your name and contact details;
• The location of the streetlight;
• The light location and proximity to the requesters home;
• Provide photos of the light spill impacting the room; and
• The actions you have taken to limit the effects of the streetlight on your property.
Please note: The suitability of installing a shield is limited and dependent on the location of the offending streetlight.
Requests for a shield will only be considered if shielding will not cause detriment to the intended function of the light and all steps have been taken by the resident to rectify the problem within the property, such as the placement of heavy curtains or block out blinds.
The time frames for assessing the need for a light shield vary between 15 and 60 business days dependent on the complexity. It can take a further three to six months to arrange for the procurement, and installation of the shield by Powercor.
Relocation of streetlights, poles or pits
Sometimes the location of streetlights, poles or pits can impact a property owners’ ability to develop or utilise a property in the manner they would like, particularly with regard to driveways. This may be in a newly developed area or sub-division, or in an established area.
When purchasing property to build or develop, the location of existing public lighting infrastructure should be a primary consideration, as relocation can be expensive and shielding may not always be possible.
Requests for the relocation of poles, lights or pits should be directed to Powercor via the mySupply portal online at https://customer.portal.powercor.com.au/mysupply.
Please note: The cost of relocation of Powercor assets is at the property owner’s expense.