The City of Ballarat has opened community consultation on the project, which will see 220 streetlights built around the Steve Moneghetti Track at the lake, and at Victoria Park.

Lake users and residents are encouraged to submit feedback via council's MySay website, or at a physical pop-up at the Robert Clark Conservatory at the Botanical Gardens

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The $2.5 million project had bipartisan support at the state election, and will be delivered in partnership with Regional Development Victoria.

Barring additional COVID-19 restrictions, it's hoped the project will go out to tender after the consultation phase, and construction can begin in late 2020 or early 2021.

A concept design for the lighting shows a five-metre tall dark pole, with a downlight-style LED fitting.

The document states the design will be dimmable for "low occupancy" times of day, and will control "light spill" and "sky glow".

"All fittings will be Smart City ready, using wireless technology, being Zarga Book 18 Sensors (sic)," it states.

A council media release states "the preferred lights for this project have been chosen to avoid light spill, meet the current Australian Standards for Public Lighting and have energy efficiency embedded through LED technology. They have also been chosen for their aesthetic and robust construction".

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Environmental and heritage reports have also been completed, and conclude lighting is unlikely to affect wildlife or heritage values.

The environmental report, as summarised by council, states a large of amount of light is already emitted in the area, and there is a "lack of clear scientific evidence to support the for or against argument".

BIOSIS' Matthew Gibson is quoted as saying "the inclusion of perimeter lighting is unlikely to have any significant impact on insects and fauna given existing light levels, location and limited operational times".

Similarly, the summarised heritage report states lighting would "re-establish a sense of coherence" around the running track, and is "not likely to disrupt" any heritage experience or understanding.

Architect John Briggs is quoted as saying "the addition of evidently beneficial infrastructure, at regular intervals, with a consistent, dignified and contemporary presence need have no impact upon the appreciation of the heritage character and significance of the lake and surrounds".

It's understood heritage-style lighting would have been prohibitively expensive.

City of Ballarat mayor Ben Taylor said it's important to note the plan is just for the circuit of the lake and Victoria Park, not the Botanical Gardens.

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"You want something that's not there during the day but that's there when you need it," he said.

Community consultation closes September 7.

For more information, and to have your say, visit the MySay website.

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