Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson is taking energy efficient lighting to the streets of south east Queensland.

The Minister today announced a street lighting trial – the first of its kind in Australia – that would see 50-watt mercury vapour lights replaced with more energy-efficient lamps.

“The trial aims to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions released by the more than 270,000 lights that shine across the region,” Mr Wilson said.

The two-year, $600,000 trial is an initiative of the State Government, ENERGEX and five councils - Gold Coast, Brisbane, Ipswich, Caboolture and Maroochy.

“The trial will look at how the new lights perform in different climatic conditions, from beachside coastal streets to frost-prone areas around Ipswich and during the upcoming summer storm season.”

Mr Wilson said the trial was the first of its kind in Australia to use sophisticated measuring devices to monitor the performance of the lights.

“The scientific rigour and research that has gone into this project and its use of innovation sets it apart from other street lighting trials,” he said.

“The trial will also monitor illumination from the energy-efficient lights to ensure they meet national standards and high public safety expectations.”

Gold Coast City Council Mayor Ron Clarke said up to 80 of the lamps involved in the trial would be located on Gold Coast streets.

“Gold Coast City has more than 45,000 streetlights costing council $4.5 million in maintenance, operation and energy each year,” Cr Clarke said.

“A successful trial could see half of these streetlights eventually replaced with more energy efficient lamps.”

“This action alone, would contribute a 0.7 per cent towards the Gold Coast’s total current greenhouse emission reduction goal of 10 per cent per person based on 2007 levels.”

Maroochy Mayor Cr Joe Natoli said the Maroochy Council’s energy management strategy was an integral part of council’s overall sustainability focus.

“There are no silver bullets in combating the increase of greenhouse gas emissions but as Maroochy currently has 11,000 street lights, this is one of our major projects in addressing the challenges of energy sustainability,” Cr Natoli said.

Cr Natoli said it was pleasing that the Council, State Government and ENERGEX were working together on the trials, in a partnership that would clearly indicate the future direction for the streetlight manufacturing industry in an increasingly energy-constrained world.

The trial has been designed so that if successful, the results could be applied to most south east Queensland conditions and help the broader statewide roll-out of energy-efficient streetlights.

A desktop study by independent lighting expert Steve Coyne of the Queensland University of Technology, in association with lighting consultant Peter McLean, comparing operating costs, energy efficiency, reduction in greenhouse gases and logistical issues indicated there could be substantive savings available by replacing current technology with newer more energy efficient lamps.

In ENERGEX’s South East Queensland distribution area, there were 271,736 public lights using 132GWh of electricity, responsible for approximately 140,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, according to 2005-06 statistics.

Across South East Queensland, public lighting costs local government $27.7 million annually in tariff charges.

“I congratulate the councils and ENERGEX for working together on this project, and I look forward to the hard and rigorous scientific data that will be able to show us the best way forward in implementing energy-efficient street and public lighting in Queensland,” Mr Wilson said.

The trial is being managed by the Energy Efficient Public Lighting Work Group, established in 2006, which includes representatives from local government, ENERGEX, the Department of Mines and Energy and independent lighting expert Steve Coyne.

The Queensland Government is providing financial support for the trial under its EnergyWise program.

Media Inquiries: Ellen McIntyre 3225 1819