The popular project was left out of the council’s draft budget earlier this month, despite being well received by the wider public.

It was one of 15 projects the council considered funding from a $4.5 million pot of money.

Runner Nic van Raaphorst said the paths around Lake Wendouree have become hazardous between 5.30pm and 7.30am, with oncoming pedestrian traffic hard to detect.

“It would be safer. It gets dark about 5.30pm, even earlier around here,” he said.

A ‘Time for the council to light up the lake’ Facebook page was recently set up and has since received 1400 likes.