7 November 2024
The community will soon see new streetlights being installed across the network.
Council is addressing the ongoing outages that have affected over 15% of the streetlight network in Tairāwhiti, with work set to begin before Christmas.
Council Director of Community Lifelines Tim Barry says he wants to reassure pedestrians, commuters and businesses that we are treating this issue as a priority and taking steps to return the network back to its normal functionality.
The outages stem from faulty LED streetlights that were installed during the 2016 LED rollout programme with other Councils from around the country facing similar issues.
“We are currently investigating the cause of these faults and aim to resolve the issue under warranty, Council is also taking legal advice on this matter.
“Care has been taken when choosing a new supplier,” says Mr Barry.
“We had to make sure that the new LEDs were cost-effective, long-lasting and able to be delivered as soon as possible.”
Council’s maintenance contractor Electrinet is ready to begin installations as soon as the new LEDs arrive, with some expected in two weeks.
The first phase of replacements will focus on critical areas, including Gladstone, Ormond, Childers Road and Main Road Makaraka. The streetlights from these locations that still work will be used to repair outages in other parts of the city.
“We’re committed to keeping the public informed about the progress of this essential project and aim to share regular updates through media, social media, and our website,” says Mr Barry.