New pathway lights for Mentone Cheltenham rail path
A dark and narrow section of the shared pathway connecting Mentone and Cheltenham railway stations was identified as an area of concern for early morning and late evening commuters. A robust but adaptable outdoor solar path lights system was needed to improve safety for commuters without disturbing nearby residents with unwanted glare.
Client
Kingston City Council
Traditional Custodians
Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation
A dark and narrow shared path in need of lighting
As part of the Cheltenham and Mentone Level Crossing Removal project in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, a new 3.5km shared path was constructed to connect Honour Grove in Cheltenham to Warrigal Road in Mentone. Wedged behind a row of houses and the Frankston railway line, a dark and narrow section of the pathway was identified by Kingston City Council as an area of concern.
Leadsun was invited by Q4 electrical, on behalf of Southern Program Alliance and Kingston City Council, to design an outdoor pathway lighting solution that could work around the challenging site constraints.
Project Challenges
No digging
Critical services located beneath the shared pathway meant that no trenching was permitted for electrical cables and no digging was allowed for the light pole footings. A different approach was needed.
Pathway lights that don’t keep the neighbours up at night
Because the pathway was located close to nearby homes, a solution was needed that could precisely direct light down onto the pathway without unwanted glare, sky-glow or light trespass escaping into residents’ windows.
An innovative outdoor pathway lighting solution needed
Instead of digging holes for the light pole footings, Leadsun came up with another solution using pre-cast concrete blocks fixed to the ground. Ezylift poles fitted with AE3 solar pathway lights were then attached to the concrete blocks so no digging was required.
Each AE3 unit has its own solar panel with a dual lithium battery supply so no connection to the electricity grid and no trenching was required. The ten pathway lights installed along the path were programmed to turn on for five hours from dusk with 100% illumination and then dim to 20% illumination until dawn, ensuring neighbours aren’t kept awake at night.
Each unit was also fitted with a light shield to reduce glare and light-trespass into nearby homes.
Solar pathway lights a win for commuters and residents
The original objective of the Mentone Station and Gardens Urban Design Framework Plan (2018), was to “provide a cycling network that provides safe and effective local access as well as through connections…to achieve a sustainable transport system that provides transport choice, improves access and enhances quality of life for local residents.” The shared pathway between Mentone and Cheltenham goes a long way toward achieving this objective, with a little help from Leadsun solar path lights.
Leadsun Business Development Manager, Walter Terella said the project was a win for commuters and local residents. “This was a challenging project requiring innovative thinking and products. Working within the unique constraints of the site, we were able to install outdoor pathway lighting that is good for commuters and good for local residents.”
Solar Pathway Light Products used
- Solar module series –AE3
- Solar PV size – 60W
- LED output: 10W
- LED programming: 100% illumination from dusk for 5hrs, then dim to 20% illumination until dawn
- Pole footing type – concrete block
- Pole type – EzyLift
Lighting Compliance
- AS1158.3.1.2020 PP4
Lighting Applications
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this project was undertaken, the 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.
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