Solar lights at Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple car park enhance safety and security for patrons
Client
Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple
Lighting Compliance
AS/NZS 1158.3.1.2020 PC3 PR5
Traditional Custodians
Bunurong People
Project Overview
The Hindu Society of Victoria (HSV) sought a sustainable lighting solution for the roadway entrance and car park of the magnificent Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs, Victoria.
Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple is the largest Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere. This 15-acre spiritual and cultural precinct serves around 2000 HSV members. With a library, museum, educational facility, seminar venues, industrial kitchen, dining hall, cafe and facilities for significant cultural events – the temple often attracts thousands of worshippers to key Hindu celebrations and ceremonies.
Dark car park and would-be trespassers
Open until 9 pm most days, hosting events at the centre in the evenings meant attendees entered and left the site in darkness and felt unsafe. Also, HSV was concerned about people climbing the fence to the site’s west and entering illegally via the adjacent Eastlink freeway.
HSV was refurbishing the temple and had built a new reception area for weddings and functions, so they needed lighting for the roadway entrance and car park. The society secured a community safety and crime prevention grant from Frankston City Council to help fund the lighting project.
HSV had positioned conduit cable at the car park to install reticulated grid-powered lighting; however, they decided to pursue an eco-friendlier option. They approached Leadsun for a sustainable solar-powered lighting solution that delivered proper lighting to Australian standards.
Time clocks improve solar lighting
Leadsun designed and installed four single solar lights and panels on 5.5m poles along the temple’s access road, including a roundabout intersection. We programmed these lights to illuminate fully from dusk until dawn.
In addition, we strategically positioned two single and eight dual solar light systems to illuminate the centre’s main car park. The car park lights included passive infrared sensors to activate the lights upon detecting movement and help to deter unwanted trespassers.
Initially, some solar lights were affected by flooding light emanating from the main building. These solar panels were, in effect, detecting ‘sunlight’ and thus switching off the new lights. To overcome this issue, Leadsun’s technicians quickly fitted the disrupted systems with time clocks to override the peripheral light detection and ensure all lights were operating effectively at night time.
The solar lighting solution on the entrance road met the Australian PR5 Standard for illuminating a roadway used by pedestrians. The somewhat brighter car park lighting was PC3-Standard compliant as required for pedestrians using car parks.
Hindu community happy and safe
HSV’s management committee and members were delighted with the final solar lighting installation and the accompanying sustainability benefits. The access road and car park are now safe for worshippers and temple visitors to use when attending evening functions. The increased feeling of security that the reliable lighting provides ensures that families, women and gender-diverse people can wholly enjoy the cultural, heritage and spiritual benefits of the Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple and facilities.
Leadsun Products Used
- P Category lighting compliance – AS1158.3.1.2020 PC3 PR5
- Number of lights – 22
- Solar module series – AE3
- Solar size – 80W (dual lights), 55W (single lights)
- LED output programming – 10W – Full illumination dusk until dawn
- Pole footing type – Ragbolt
- Pole type – 5.5m lowerable poles
Leadsun Applications
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this project was undertaken, the Bunurong People. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Similar Projects
Lights on Streets: Leadsun selected for Epperson Estate, Tampa Bay
Lights on Streets: Epperson Estate in Tampa Bay Florida, USA...
Read More
Capital City Trail Solar Path Lights
Solar path lights make the Capital City Trail safer at...
Read More
The Bass Coast Rail Trail
Bass Coast Rail Trail’s ‘dark tunnel’ receives solar illumination to...
Read More