After a long campaign, solar path lighting will be installed at Yerrabi Pond as part of a pilot program.

The Friends of Yerrabi Pond and other residents had called for path lighting in the heavily used recreational area for some time, while Andrew Braddock, ACT Greens Member for Yerrabi, took this issue as a priority to the ACT election in 2020.

The solar lighting pilot will be constructed along a 180-metre stretch of the northern end of Yerrabi Pond, starting with the Bizant Street playground and heading west, said Chris Steel, ACT Minister for Transport and City Services. Six solar lights will be installed, which will illuminate to 100 per cent for around five hours in the evening and then revert to a dimmed mode of 20 per cent until dawn.

While dimmed, inbuilt passive infrared sensors in the lights will activate when they detect movement, and the lights will return to 100 per cent illumination.

“The Friends Of Yerrabi Pond are very pleased with the solar lighting trial,” said the group’s spokesman, Darron Marks.

“We hope the outcome of the lighting study will ensure those who use the pond can continue to do so later in the evening and feel a greater sense of night time safety and security.”

“Path lighting is a crucial step towards ensuring our community feels confident and safe to enjoy Yerrabi Pond at all hours of the day and night,” Mr Braddock said.

“Not only are solar lights a more sustainable option, they are cheaper than traditional street lights, and do not have the associated work of digging trenches and laying conduits to connect the lights to the electricity network.

“My vision is for the entire loop path of Yerrabi Pond to be lit, so that locals can confidently enjoy the pond at all hours.”

Mr Braddock congratulated the Friends of Yerrabi Pond for all their hard work and advocacy on this issue.

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