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This article was published on Wednesday, 16 September, 2015. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Street light upgrade improves lighting

Works were completed this week to upgrade the second phase of lights with 1,947 energy efficient T5 fluorescent street lights installed as part of the Watts Working Better project. An earlier installation phase was carried out at the end of 2014.

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor Dennis Patterson said “ Greater Shepparton now has 3,840 more energy efficient street lights from working this year and last year within our municipality and it is great we are reducing our environmental impacts on the local community’.

“Watts Working Better provided an opportunity for nine Councils to come together and collectively make the switch to energy efficient alternatives resulting in a combined saving of $782,921 across the partner Councils.

“In addition to providing significant savings and cutting emissions the upgrade importantly provides better street lighting for our communities,” said Cr Patterson.

The project received $2.95 million in funding from the Australian Government with councils collectively contributing $1.73 million. Coordinated by the Goulburn Broken Greenhouse Alliance, the Watts Working Better project involves the partner councils of Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Moira, Benalla, Strathbogie, Wangaratta, Mansfield, Murrindindi and Mitchell.

The project involves changing more than 12,600 street lights across the 9 partner shires to more energy efficient alternatives, reducing energy use by 3,724,136kWh per year.

This will contribute to a reduction in greenhouse emissions by 93,100 tonnes over 20 years.