Marie Wallace Park Knox

Knox City Council tackles anti-social activities with a targeted solar lighting solution

Client

Knox City Council

Lighting Compliance

AS/NZS 1158.3.1.2020 PC2

Traditional Custodians

Wurundjeri and Bunurong Boon peoples of the Kulin Nation

Project Overview

Marie Wallace Park, situated in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Bayswater, is a beautiful open space that provides the local community with playground, recreation, parkland and sports facilities.

Knox City Council recently upgraded the playground, nearby pathways, and picnic areas as part of the Marie Wallace Park Masterplan in partnership with the Victoria government. The council required solar lighting of the car park and adjoining shared pathways “to improve public safety and reduce vandalism and anti-social activities”.

More bright lights needed to support local police

The central car park is adjacent to the Bayswater Football Club building, which hosts junior and senior player activities, including social events with bar and food catering. The car park is also near a late-night service station and liquor store on the Mountain Highway.

In the evenings, the single grid-powered light at the end of the car park was insufficient for illuminating the whole area. As a result, the car park was unsafe for people attending evening club events or using the park facilities after dark. Plus, the poor lighting and darker areas cultivated opportunities for illegal behaviour. These anti-social activities put a strain on the local authorities. Concerned residents avoided the park in the evenings and early mornings.

Knox City Council sought a higher level of lighting around the car park, i.e., at a surveillance intensity that would deter undesirable activities. The safety of all park users – from families having BBQs and kids using the playground to women and girls participating in sports after dark – was paramount.

Suitable light intensity enhances car park safety

In close consultation with the council, Leadsun designed and demonstrated an effective solar lighting solution to deliver appropriate-lighting levels within budget. The prerequisite ‘PC2 car park lighting standard’ required higher power generation from the solar engines and bigger batteries to ensure they produced sufficient light throughout the night.

Realising the safety benefits of the new car park lights, Bayswater Football Club promptly approached the council to expand solar lighting along 200m of pathways linking the seniors’ ground and clubrooms to the junior club building near the car park. Leadsun installed an additional 11 lights between the venues.

Initially, the council didn’t see the need to activate the in-built web-based EDGE monitoring and control capabilities for the car park lights. However, after Leadsun installed the path lighting systems, the council decided to enable the EDGE control system to remotely adjust individual lights via the online platform. Consequently, early morning personal training sessions and other community activities received brighter light when they needed it to feel safe.

Lights boost safety and sports participation

Knox City Council and residents are thrilled with the Leadsun lighting solution for Marie Wallace Park’s main car park and key pathways. The appropriately illuminated car park is much safer, and the number of anti-social incidents has decreased. The real-time remote lighting controls have increased the public’s enjoyment and use of the parkland beyond daylight hours.

Furthermore, the better lighting infrastructure supports participation in football, cricket and other sports by women and gender-diverse people.

Leadsun Products Used

P Category lighting compliance – AS1158.3.1.2020 PC2
Number of lights – 14
Solar module series – AE3 & AE6
Solar size – 130W & 260W
LED output programming – 10W & 30W
Pole footing type – Concrete
Pole type – EZYtilt & EZYwinch
Additional solutions – EDGE

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this project was undertaken, the Wurundjeri and Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.