CITY of Ballarat councillor Amy Johnson has aired the idea for a glow-in-the-dark path around Lake Wendouree.
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Cr Johnson has long advocated for lakeside lighting along the Steve Moneghetti Track in a bid for increased use, and safer use, for a cross-section of sporting and recreational lake users.
A Moon Deck trial by Brisbane City Council captured Cr Johnson’s attention with its glowing potential, so she posed the option on social media to gauge feedback.
Cr Johnson said she was trying to continue the conversation about lighting at Lake Wendouree.
“I was just getting residents’ feedback, on glow in the dark paths, which have recently been or about to be installed in Brisbane,” she said.
“Increased lighting would increase visibility so there is likelihood someone would trip over, or run into another person.
“I am not necessarily an advocate for them, I just want to keep the conversation going.”
Brisbane is set to trial the non-slip, glow-in-the-dark resin pathway in an outer suburb for walkers, runners and cyclists.
The product has also been trialled at Brisbane's Ferny Grove Cycle Link to segregate the path and mark centre-line and outer-line markings. Feedback from the trial was positive and found effective for walkers and riders with no lights.
Brisbane’s public and active transport chief Adrian Schrinner said there were some situations when lighting was not appropriate, for example, in bushland or where there was a potential impact on wildlife.
Moon Deck, which does not need direct sunlight to charge, is an illumination alternative.
Track lighting at Lake Wendouree was deemed an urgent action item in the City of Ballarat’s Lake Wendouree preliminary master plan.
Almost 82 per cent of respondents to the master plan were in full support for lake lighting.
Recommendations for the project include energy efficient pole-mounted lights to meet public safety and lighting options for best visual and environmental impacts.
Cr Johnson said initial feedback had suggested residents would prefer overhead lighting in favour of the Brisbane glow track.
“The feedback I've received is the vast majority of people are in favour of overhead lighting,” she said.
“Staff are currently looking at the costs based on different types of lighting and different styles of light poles for the lake.”