Streetlights

Streetlights are installed to provide safe passage to pedestrians and drivers. To achieve this, streetlights are positioned at specific locations to provide lighting compliant to the Australian Standards. These locations include on the sides of roads, in centre medians, at pedestrian crossings, intersections, roundabouts, bends, ramps and local area traffic management devices (i.e. traffic islands).

To provide lighting compliant with the Australian Standards for the roads, there may be  instances where light spills from the streetlight and falls into a private property's bedroom windows. This is known as “spill” and upon request, Council offers to assess spill light complaints.

Public lighting

Spill light from public lighting including bikeways, parks and public carparks are assessed similarly to streetlights. 

Spill light assessment criteria

The assessment considers certain criteria including the amount of spill light falling within bedroom windows and the location of the streetlight.

In order to maintain compliance with the Australian Standard for road and public lighting, Council does not offer treatments when a streetlight is located at the following locations:

• pedestrian crossings
• intersections
• across the road or along the road from your residence
• roundabouts
• road bends
• adjacent to local area traffic management devices (i.e. traffic island).

Spill light vs glare

Council assesses spill light but not glare from streetlights and public lighting. Spill light is the amount of light falling onto a bedroom window from a streetlight or public lighting. Glare is caused by looking at a streetlight or public lighting from a bedroom window.

Assessment process

Upon receiving the request from a resident to assess a potential spill light nuisance, Council will conduct an assessment through:

• Council and Energex records such as workplans, databases and asset history.
• Reviewing the type of streetlight, wattage, light output, light distribution, mounting height and installation date.
• Reviewing spatial data.
• Lighting software.
• Australian Standard AS/NZS 1158 series (lighting for roads and public spaces).
• Australian Standard AS/NZS 4282 (Control of the obtrusive effects of outdoor lighting).

Complaint assessment can take up to 90 days and once the assessment is complete, the customer will be provided with the outcome.