Council and the community sought a safer, sustainable shared path, kinder on flora and fauna and residential areas, without the high costs or energy use. Overhead lighting was seen as too costly and complex to install.

Council was not wanting to installing overhead electric lighting on this shared user path in suburban Tasmania because this would raise significant concerns about disturbing local fauna. Poles and wires would also be too close to existing mature trees.

Bright, artificial lights can disrupt the natural behaviors and habitats of nocturnal animals, leading to disorientation and changes in feeding and mating patterns. Preserving biodiversity and ecological balance was seen as being crucial, and minimising such disturbances is a key also a consideration for the local community.

Given the proximity of back and front yards of houses all along the shared user path, Council and the community were concerned about overhead lighting systems that often cause light spill.

This intrusion disrupts residents’ privacy and can affect their sleep patterns and overall quality of life. The community expressed concerns about maintaining a peaceful, dark sky environment in their suburban neighborhood, free from excessive light pollution.

The absence of effective lighting solutions on the shared user path also led to issues with the safe separation of pedestrians, dog walkers, and bike riders. Insufficient visibility increased the risk of incidents and injuries from conflicts among different users, making the path less safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Council and the community wanted the shared user path illuminated with innovative and sustainable lighting to ensure clear visibility and safe navigation for all users, ensuring people get home safely every day.

Council had considered other lighting products, but faced challenges in finding visible, long-lasting lighting options that could be easily replaced and recycled at the end of their life.

Traditional overhead lights are not only expensive and energy-intensive but also difficult to maintain. The lack of other sustainable and efficient in-ground lighting solutions also added to the operational and environmental challenges of ensuring a well-lit, safe shared user path for the community.

Council had also previously used bollards to provide delineation along the shared user path but this turned out to be very expensive due to damage caused by vandalism.

Following close liaison with Council Staff we suggested that they use solar-powered, 4-directional LED in-ground lights (Vivacity Solar-Powered In-Ground LED Stud Lights) for the 600m stretch of the shared user path between Freshwater Point and Bindaree Roads that ran along the back and front yards of residential houses.

In total, 150 lights were installed by Council.

The highly visible 4-directional light removed any potential for light spill into the nearby grassed reserve, tress and residences, while providing clear delineation along the centre of the shared user path from bike riders, dog walkers and pedestrians in low light conditions and at night.

• Highly visible 4-directional LED light that does not cause light spill: The 4-directional Vivacity Solar-Powered In-Ground LED Stud Lights offer exceptional visibility while preventing unwanted light from spilling into nearby areas. This ensures effective illumination of the path without disturbing surrounding properties.
• Protecting residential amenity: By minimising light pollution, Vivacity Solar-Powered In-Ground LED Stud Lights help maintain the tranquility and privacy of nearby homes. This thoughtful approach preserves the quality of life for local residents.
• Reducing costs and energy use: Vivacity Solar-Powered In-Ground LED Stud Lights significantly lower operational expenses compared to traditional electric lighting solutions. They improve financial sustainability and provide a cost-effective and sustainable option for illuminating shared pathways.
• Improved safety for bike riders, dog walkers, and pedestrians: Enhanced visibility from Vivacity Solar-Powered In-Ground LED Stud Lights ensures a safer environment for all path users, reducing the risk of incidents, promoting safer interaction and healthy exercise for all users.
• Easily replaced and recycled at end of life: Designed for straightforward replacement of batteries and recycling, Vivacity Solar-Powered In-Ground LED Stud Lights demonstrate how to reduce the environmental impact of construction. Compared to other in-ground stud lights on the market, they offer a more sustainable and eco-friendly solution.