MAV President, Cr Bill McArthur said the annual Fellowship award encouraged international research to be undertaken on a significant issue facing the local government sector.
“Public street lighting is the single biggest energy consumption item for Victorian councils, annually costing more than $50 million, or 1-2 per cent of total sector expenditure.
“Current regulatory regimes and insufficient competition within the electricity distribution market leave councils with a limited capacity to negotiate more competitive terms and rates.
“Recently a group of Victorian councils has appealed exorbitant increases in electricity distributors’ operation and maintenance fees determined by the Australian Energy Regulator. The MAV supports this move.
“The system is further compounded by a lack of incentives for electricity distributors to assist councils to introduce energy efficient lighting technology,” he said.
Cr Wolfe’s study will consider energy consumption, increasing electricity costs, the availability of new technologies, pedestrian and vehicle movement patterns, and the ecological impacts of public lighting reduction. As part of his research, Cr Wolfe intends to visit the USA and the UK.
Cr McArthur said Cr Wolfe’s studies would provide an important contribution to support local government’s ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly through energy efficiency.
“The Baillieu Government committed a $20 million plan to replace expensive and inefficient local road street lights following a Victorian local government advocacy campaign to Give Our Streets the Green Light.
“The re-elected Gillard Government also committed to funding grants of up to $500 000 to help councils upgrade to energy efficient street lighting under their $80 million Low Carbon Communities program.
"We know that switching to energy efficient street lighting can save a considerable amount of greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the assets - 31.2 billion black balloons; 341 917 cars off the road for a year; or a city the size of Mildura’s entire household emissions for a year.
“It could also provide energy cost savings for Victorian councils of more than $9.5 million annually.
“We trust the outcomes of Cr Wolfe’s study will provide learnings and opportunities for all councils to better engage their communities in a discussion about additional solutions to reduce public lighting costs without reducing public safety.
“The MAV congratulates Cr Wolfe and looks forward to receiving his report,” Cr McArthur concluded.
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Contact MAV President, Cr Bill McArthur on 0437 984 793 or MAV Communications on (03) 9667 5547.