Positive impacts of innovative and sustainable light poles for use in parks and streetscapes

Abstract

As more forward thinking and innovative asset owners identify the critical importance of sustainability in their infrastructure, a focus has shifted within the manufacturing industry to be able to support this ingenuity and provide advanced and sustainable infrastructure that helps to reduce our impact on the environment. This case study will focus on the partnering of unique, Australian based, technologies to create a sustainable light pole system that works off grid and reduces the overall impact to our environment by utilising a combination of state of the art solutions. The case study highlights the eco-friendly and aesthetic benefits that the Gold Coast City Council gains by utilising this distinctive light pole system. The system itself is made up of 3x key components; concrete-less foundation by SureFoot, light weight fibre composite poles manufactured by Wagners, and world leading wind/solar powered lighting supplied by Aura Clean Energy which utilises a combination of a magnetic levitation turbines and solar panels to power the lighting system for the famous Broadwater Parklands in the heart of the Gold Coast. Traditional materials and methodologies such as concrete, steel, and power supplied via the grid, are engrained in everyone as being the “norm” however in more recent times are being exposed as significantly less sustainable than the new and emerging technologies that are on offer which has stimulated asset owners on the need to seek alternative options when designing or specifying new projects.