LED street lighting upgrade program Timeline report 2017 to September 2026

Contents

• City of Mitcham — LED Street Lighting Upgrade Program: Timeline Report (2017 – August 2026)
• Executive summary
• Timeline
• 2015/16 — Council conducted an LED Lighting Pilot Trial for its operations at Urrbrae main…
• 11 July 2017 — Item 8.1, "Transition to LED Street Lighting," was considered as a confidential item
• 12 September 2017 — Item 9.1, "Transition to LED Street Lighting," was again considered confidentially,…
• 26 September 2017 — Item 8.1, "Transition to LED Street Lighting," was considered confidentially a further…
• 28 November 2017 — Item 8.1, "Transition to LED Street Lighting – Contract Agreement," was brought to…
• 12 December 2017 — Item 8.2, "Transition to LED Street Lighting – Contract Agreement," was presented as a…
• February 2018 — A Mitcham Community News article, "New LED Street Lights to Improve our Streets,"…
• April 2018 — A follow-up Mitcham Community News article, "Have you Seen our New LED Street Lights?,"…
• 16 March 2021 — A council briefing recorded that a grant application had been submitted to state…
• 9 August 2022 — Item 14.3, "LED Street Lighting Upgrade Project," reported that Council, as part of its…
• 29 November 2022 — Item 10.2, "Trend Insights," reported the LED street lighting conversion measure with a…
• 28 February 2023 — A council briefing, "Energy Projects: Delivered," listed the LED street light…
• 11 July 2023 — Item 15.3, "LED Street Lighting Upgrade project," reported that delivery of the first…
• 23 January 2024 — Item 15.2, "LED Street Lighting Upgrade project," reported that SAPN had undertaken…
• 27 August 2024 — A Traffic and Transport projects briefing recorded the LED lighting upgrade as 95%…
• 12 November 2024 — Item 12.1, "Converting Street Lighting to LED, 95% Complete," reported that the LED…
• 18 March 2025 — A "Traffic Control Device New Construction" update reported the LED lighting program at…
• 12 August 2025 — Item 12.2, "LED Street Lighting Upgrade project," repeated the 95%-complete status and…
• 19 August 2025 — A strategic planning briefing listed, under "Focus Area 6 – Technology" of a 10-year…
• 10 February 2026 — Item 12.1, "LED Street Lighting Upgrade project," again reported over 95% completion,…
• 12 May 2026 — Item 11.1 repeated the Focus Area 4 (Parking) and Focus Area 6 (Technology) strategic…
• 25 August 2026 — A Council Information Session was held, with notice given under Section 90A of the…
• 8 September 2026 — At the Council meeting, Ms Caroline Sebben was granted permission to present to Council…
• Key findings
• Open questions

City of Mitcham — LED Street Lighting Upgrade Program: Timeline Report (2017 – August 2026)

Executive summary

The City of Mitcham's LED street lighting upgrade program originated with confidential council reports in 2017 and a formal contract with SA Power Networks (SAPN) signed following a decision on 12 December 2017 to convert 5,306 residential 'P category' street lights to LED luminaires [5]. The program subsequently expanded to cover approximately 2,400 further "V category" and remaining street lights [7][10][11][15][16][18], reaching approximately 95% completion by 2025–2026, with 7,300 lights upgraded and 478 ornamental High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights remaining as of August 2026, concentrated in Craigburn Farm, Springfield, Mitcham Village and other suburbs [25]. Delivery was repeatedly affected by global supply-chain delays and by the need for a Development Application for Colonel Light Gardens road lighting [7][10][11]. From 2024 the program's final stage focused on decorative "Kensington-style" and "B2001-style" ornamental lighting, generating community engagement, a petition of 939 signatures, and public deputations and questions at the 8 September 2026 Council meeting, at which Council resolved that the rollout remains on hold pending a further report [34][28][30][31][32][33].

Timeline

2015/16

Council conducted an LED Lighting Pilot Trial for its operations at Urrbrae main reserve and Craigburn Farm, described in Business Plan Measures material [35].

11 July 2017

Item 8.1, "Transition to LED Street Lighting," was considered as a confidential item; its status in the Confidentiality Register is recorded as "Retain" [37].

12 September 2017

Item 9.1, "Transition to LED Street Lighting," was again considered confidentially, with status "Retain" in the Confidentiality Register [40].

26 September 2017

Item 8.1, "Transition to LED Street Lighting," was considered confidentially a further time, status "Retain" [37].

28 November 2017

Item 8.1, "Transition to LED Street Lighting – Contract Agreement," was brought to Council as a confidential report for discussion [1][2]. Its Confidentiality Register status is recorded as "Retain" [38].

12 December 2017

Item 8.2, "Transition to LED Street Lighting – Contract Agreement," was presented as a revised confidential report for decision, following the 28 November discussion [1][2]. The proposal was to authorise the Chief Executive Officer to (1) sign the SA Power Networks Contract Agreement to replace 5,306 residential 'P category' street lights with LED luminaires under the SAPN PLC Tariff, and (2) enter a commercial agreement with a carbon market agent (Australian Integrated Carbon and Gray Consulting) prior to signing with SAPN, to return an estimated additional $28,000 over seven years to Council [3][4].

Cr Fisher moved, seconded by Cr Todd, that the public be excluded under Section 90(2) of the *Local Government Act 1999* on the grounds that the report contained commercial-in-confidence information about the financial pricing model for street lighting and carbon credits, disclosure of which could prejudice SAPN, the carbon agent, and Council; the motion carried and the meeting moved into confidence [5].

In confidence, Cr Fisher moved Decision 1, carried unanimously, that Council authorise the Chief Executive Officer to sign a contract with SAPN to replace the 5,306 residential 'P category' street lights with LED luminaires under the SAPN PLC Tariff, on the basis of: a 10-year contract term with changeover commencing January 2018 and implemented over 1–2 years (subject to final agreement); Council purchasing the LED luminaires and providing them to SAPN for installation at an estimated one-off capital cost not exceeding $2.06 million, with Council retaining ownership; Council funding future maintenance/replacement of damaged or failed luminaires after warranty expiry; and SAPN managing the street lighting fleet and maintaining the power network and light supports at its own cost. Council also noted commercial benefits over an estimated 20-year asset life: a forecast payback period of 5.6 years, and net annualised savings of around $292,650 per annum (a total of $5.85 million over 20 years), assuming the SAPN PLC Tariff contract terms were extended or transferred on similar terms [5]. This item is recorded in the Confidentiality Register with status "Retain" [39].

February 2018

A Mitcham Community News article, "New LED Street Lights to Improve our Streets," announced the upgrade of over 5,000 street lights to energy-efficient LED technology across the city during 2018, at an estimated cost of approximately $2.2 million, projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 605 tonnes per year and save approximately $300,000 annually in energy and maintenance costs, with carbon credit payments of approximately $28,000 over seven years expected via the Federal Government's Emission Reduction Fund. Old lights were to be recycled by Enerven. The rollout was scheduled to begin in February and complete by mid-2018 across numerous named suburbs [41].

April 2018

A follow-up Mitcham Community News article, "Have you Seen our New LED Street Lights?," confirmed that replacement had commenced in February and was underway across seven zones, with Craigburn Farm grouped in a zone alongside Coromandel Valley and Blackwood [36].

16 March 2021

A council briefing recorded that a grant application had been submitted to state government seeking dollar-for-dollar matching funding for the LED streetlight changeover, with an estimated project cost of $1.88 million and an expected annual emission reduction of 136 tCO2e (3.2% of total emissions), under the heading of changing all street lights to energy-efficient technology by 2030 [6].

9 August 2022

Item 14.3, "LED Street Lighting Upgrade Project," reported that Council, as part of its business plan, had endorsed a project to upgrade approximately 2,400 street lights to LED. Delivery of phase one was pending SAPN implementation, and global supply issues had delayed procurement of new LED lights. For Colonel Light Gardens, a Development Application was required for changes to road lighting and was underway; subject to its outcome, the upgrade was expected in late 2022, with overall completion estimated for early 2023 [7].

29 November 2022

Item 10.2, "Trend Insights," reported the LED street lighting conversion measure with a target of 75 and an actual figure of 50, noting that due to supply issues procurement of new streetlights (via SAPN) had been delayed and was scheduled to begin in Q1 of Financial Year 2022/23; evaluation of Category V lighting was noted as complete [8].

28 February 2023

A council briefing, "Energy Projects: Delivered," listed the LED street light transition among energy projects delivered, alongside solar panels on Council buildings, fleet EV transition (stage 1), and the Community Renewables Program (stage 1) [9].

11 July 2023

Item 15.3, "LED Street Lighting Upgrade project," reported that delivery of the first phase of the order was underway from SAPN, again delayed by global supply issues. For the Colonel Light Gardens area, the Development Application had been approved and procurement completed. Installation of all LED upgrade lights was rescheduled to be completed by the end of the calendar year, as advised by SAPN [10].

23 January 2024

Item 15.2, "LED Street Lighting Upgrade project," reported that SAPN had undertaken installation and completed over 90% of the LED changeover. A V-category LED lighting Development Application had been submitted for Colonel Light Gardens. It was also noted that existing lighting in Springfield and Craigburn Farm included 'Kensington style' decorative type lighting, with a review underway to determine the best way forward for upgrading this non-LED lighting [11].

27 August 2024

A Traffic and Transport projects briefing recorded the LED lighting upgrade as 95% complete, with 'ornamental' lighting procurement underway for local areas such as Urrbrae [12].

12 November 2024

Item 12.1, "Converting Street Lighting to LED, 95% Complete," reported that the LED changeover had been completed for all pedestrian (P) and vehicle (V) lighting categories not completed in Stage 1, with the exception of P category decorative lighting. Community engagement on the P category decorative lighting was scheduled to commence in Q2 2024/25, with the LED changeover to be completed in Q3 2024/25 [13].

18 March 2025

A "Traffic Control Device New Construction" update reported the LED lighting program at procurement stage for remaining locations [14]. Item 12.2, "LED Street Lighting Upgrade project," reported SAPN had completed over 95% of the LED changeover, with a review underway for procurement of remaining 'ornamental' Kensington-style decorative lighting in Urrbrae, Springfield and parts of Mitcham; a procurement process was to be undertaken by April 2025 with implementation to follow soon after [15].

12 August 2025

Item 12.2, "LED Street Lighting Upgrade project," repeated the 95%-complete status and the ongoing review of ornamental Kensington-style lighting procurement, noting the initiative had been delayed due to prioritisation of other projects, with the procurement process now scheduled by September 2025 [16].

19 August 2025

A strategic planning briefing listed, under "Focus Area 6 – Technology" of a 10-year plan, an "LED road lighting upgrade program" alongside smart solutions utilising existing infrastructure such as road lighting and open spaces [17].

10 February 2026

Item 12.1, "LED Street Lighting Upgrade project," again reported over 95% completion, with the ornamental lighting review ongoing and a procurement process now scheduled for February/March 2026, with implementation to follow soon after [18].

12 May 2026

Item 11.1 repeated the Focus Area 4 (Parking) and Focus Area 6 (Technology) strategic priorities, including the LED road lighting upgrade program and smart street lighting solutions, within the 10-year plan framework [19]. A further supporting document under Item 11.1 described the "LED road lighting upgrade program" as including smart solutions utilising existing infrastructure and a smart school zones trial [20].

25 August 2026

A Council Information Session was held, with notice given under Section 90A of the *Local Government Act 1999*, including an agenda item "Street Lighting LED Roll Out – Project Update," presented by Manager Engineering Satyen Gandhi and Team Leader Traffic and Transport Denish Shah, to update Council members and seek feedback on project next steps [23].

Briefing material presented at or around this session set out the "Program Position": the rollout was approximately 95% complete, with 7,300 lights upgraded and 478 ornamental HID lights remaining, comprising 367 Kensington-style and 111 B2001-style fittings. The remaining lights were distributed as: Craigburn Farm 334 (all Kensington-style), Springfield 65 (all B2001), Mitcham Village 19 (all Kensington-style), and others (Pasadena, Panorama, Urrbrae, St Marys) 60 (14 Kensington-style, 46 B2001) [25].

A "Current phase: remaining 478 lights" briefing described a project timeline: in April 2026 the phase began and a consultant was appointed and the project scoped; in July 2026 the community was notified, with approximately 1,450 letters sent across seven suburbs (Craigburn Farm, Springfield, Mitcham village, Pasadena, Panorama, Urrbrae, St Marys); feedback was received in July–August 2026 and community responses were reviewed; and in August 2026 options were explored, working with the consultant, with quotes received from SAPN [21].

Two replacement options were presented. Option A, "Standard Side-Entry LED," offered lower upfront and future replacement costs, the lowest ongoing annual SAPN tariff, better light distribution with less spill into adjoining properties, readily available products with shorter lead times, and consistency with the approximately 7,300 lights already upgraded, including in heritage areas such as Colonel Light Gardens [24]. Option B, "Like-for-Like replacement Ornamental LED," was noted to align with recent community feedback and retain the existing decorative appearance, with the disadvantage of a noticeable change to the look of the lighting under Option A by comparison [22]. Under "Way Forward," the available remaining project budget was stated as $1.076 million, with Option B costing $600,000 more than Option A; both options were stated to be expected to fit within the available budget [26].

8 September 2026

At the Council meeting, Ms Caroline Sebben was granted permission to present to Council in relation to Craigburn Farm Streetlights; Cr Hockley moved, seconded by Cr Kruse, that item 9.1 (the petition) be dealt with at that point in the meeting, which carried unanimously [29].

Item 9.1, "Petition – Street Lighting, LED Upgrade Project – Craigburn Farm," presented a petition with 939 signatures (initial 11 August 2026, supplementary 2 September 2026) calling on Council to retain existing Kensington style street lamps and support their upgrade to energy-efficient LED lighting rather than replace them with the proposed new street light design, and asking Council to work with SAPN to provide LED upgrades within the existing Kensington style lamps [27][28].

Council resolved, on the motion of Cr Hockley, seconded by Cr Kruse, carried: (1) that Council receive the petition summary; (2) that Council note the LED Street Lighting rollout project is currently on hold pending a future report to Council; and (3) that the Head Petitioner be advised of this decision [34].

During Gallery Question Time, four Craigburn Farm residents asked questions on the topic. Mr John Hood asked whether Council's SAPN service contract currently provides LED lights in Kensington Lantern fittings, citing an SAPN maintenance crew having recently repaired a light on Grand Boulevard with an 80-watt globe rather than a 12-watt LED said to be available, and asked why Council would replace an existing Kensington Lantern meeting the LED project's requirement, and whether Council would be billed for SAPN repairs/replacements and how much; both questions were noted as "to be responded to in a future agenda" [30]. Ms Luci Canale asked whether technical advice, light counts and full costings would be made public before Council next considers the matter, and whether the staff report could be released for information two weeks before the meeting at which it is tabled; the first question was deferred to a future agenda, and the Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Engineering and Horticulture responded "yes" to the second [31]. Mr Peter Davies asked for a detailed cost breakdown showing how the $600,000 additional cost of Option B (like-for-like replacement) was calculated, and asked why, given that Kensington Mark 2 LED lights from SAPN were reportedly installed and switched on in a Craigburn Farm street in September 2017 (three months before the SAPN upgrade contract was signed), no "like-for-like" clause was included in that contract for the 478 older HID lights, and whether this omission accounted for the additional $600,000 cost; both questions were deferred to a future agenda [32]. Ms Jacquie Wright, referencing an approach reportedly taken by the City of Salisbury sensitive to wildlife, asked whether Council would consider 3000K lights for Craigburn Farm; this was deferred to a future agenda [33].

Key findings

• The LED street lighting program began with confidential Council items from at least July 2017, culminating in a Council decision on 12 December 2017 to authorise the Chief Executive Officer to sign a 10-year contract with SA Power Networks to convert 5,306 residential 'P category' street lights to LED, at an estimated capital cost not exceeding $2.06 million, with Council retaining asset ownership [5].
• The record does not include minutes for 12 December 2017 showing whether Decision 1 was formally adopted as a resolution of Council in open session versus in the confidential session; the decision text itself is drawn from the confidential minutes excerpt provided [5].
• Public communications in early 2018 described a much larger rollout (over 5,000 street lights) than the 5,306 'P category' lights authorised in the confidential decision, and separately referenced a subsequent phase of approximately 2,400 remaining street lights first mentioned in Council reporting from August 2022 [41][7].
• Delivery of the approximately 2,400-light second phase was repeatedly delayed by global supply-chain issues affecting SAPN's procurement of LED lights, and by the need for a Development Application covering Colonel Light Gardens road lighting [7][8][10].
• By late 2024 into 2025–2026, the program's remaining scope narrowed specifically to ornamental "Kensington-style" and "B2001-style" decorative lighting fittings, concentrated in Craigburn Farm, Springfield, Mitcham Village, Pasadena, Panorama, Urrbrae and St Marys, totalling 478 lights as of August 2026 against 7,300 already upgraded [25].
• The August 2026 information session presented two competing replacement options (standard side-entry LED versus like-for-like ornamental LED) with a cost differential of $600,000, within an available remaining budget of $1.076 million, without a recorded Council decision on which option to pursue [26][23].
• Community opposition to loss of the Kensington-style lamps' character was formally registered via a 939-signature petition and multiple resident deputations/questions at the 8 September 2026 Council meeting; Council resolved to receive the petition and confirmed the rollout project is on hold pending a further report [34][28].
• Several resident questions raised at the 8 September 2026 meeting concerning cost breakdowns, historical installation of Kensington Mark 2 LED lights in 2017, and technical/wildlife-related lighting specifications remain unanswered in the material, marked "to be responded to in a future agenda" [30][31][32][33].

Open questions

• The record does not show whether the SA Power Networks contract proposal moved by Cr Fisher and authorised in the confidential decision of 12 December 2017 was ever ratified or reported in open Council minutes, nor the exact date the contract was signed.
• The material does not clarify who is responsible for selecting the specific model/type of LED light used (SAPN, Council, or a joint process), including for the ornamental Kensington-style and B2001-style replacements under consideration in 2026.
• It is not stated in the record whether the 5,306 'P category' lights authorised in December 2017 are the same population, a subset, or distinct from the "approximately 2,400 remaining street lights" phase first referenced in August 2022 reporting.
• The report does not show a Council decision selecting Option A or Option B (or a combination) for the remaining 478 ornamental lights; as of the latest record (8 September 2026), the project is described as "on hold pending future report."
• The basis for the $600,000 cost differential between Option A and Option B, requested by resident Mr Peter Davies, is not detailed in the material provided.
• The record does not resolve the resident-raised question of why no "like-for-like" replacement clause was included in the original SAPN contract for the 478 older HID lights, nor whether Kensington Mark 2 LED lights were in fact installed in Craigburn Farm in September 2017 as claimed.
• The material does not confirm whether Council's SAPN service contract currently provides LED lights when repairing/maintaining existing Kensington Lantern fittings, nor whether Council is billed for such repairs.
• The full content and specific documents held confidential under the four 2017 "Transition to LED Street Lighting" register entries are not described beyond their titles, dates and "Retain" status [37][38][39][40].