LED streetlight upgrade

We’ve recently finished converting about 4,700 of the district’s 4,786 sodium vapour street lamps with new white light-emitting diode (LED) lights.

The conversion was made possible as a result of a one-off Government subsidy from the NZ Transport Agency, which contributed 85 per cent of the estimated $2.2 million cost to convert to LED lights.

LED lights offer significant benefits. They provide better illumination and draw more than 50 per cent less power than sodium vapour street lamps. They also have a much longer shelf life, around 20 years compared to four to five years for a sodium vapour street lamp, which means they don’t need to be replaced as often and the cost to run and maintain street lighting is reduced.

Frequently asked questions

Why did the Council make the conversion to LED lights?

LED lights provide better illumination and draw more than 50 per cent less power than sodium vapour street lamps. They also have a much longer shelf life, around 20 years compared to four to five years for a sodium vapour street lamp, which means they don’t need to be replaced as often and the cost to run and maintain street lighting is reduced.

What’s the difference?

LED lights omit a white light which can appear much brighter than the dull orange light you get from traditional street lamps. The light spill will be directed downwards to the road and footpath to reduce light pollution.

Are the LED lights brighter?

LED lights omit a white light which can appear brighter than the dull orange light you get from traditional street lamps. The contractors carried out light intensity testing before and after installation to ensure the light intensity was within acceptable levels and complied with the NZ Standard for road lighting.

Are there any adverse effects from LED lighting?

As with any street lighting, light pollution can be an issue if appropriate steps are not taken to mitigate possible adverse effects. The light fixtures we use are from the NZ Transport Agency approved list and meet their standard for colour corrected temperature and intensity.

There are things we can do to mitigate light pollution if it’s a problem. For example a clear or blacked out, dome-shaped cover can be fitted to control the light spill into people’s property. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions or concerns.

How much did the conversions cost the Council?

The conversion to LED street lights was made possible as a result of a one-off Government subsidy. The NZ Transport Agency contributed 85 percent of the $2.2 million cost to convert to LED lights.

Have all the street lights been replaced?

Yes, almost all of them – there are a few exceptions, such as in parks and recreation areas.