AusNet is switching on a brighter future for Phillip Island, one that’s smarter, greener, and kinder to native wildlife.
In an innovative trial, AusNet is rolling out intelligent streetlight technology across five locations on Phillip Island.
AusNet General Manager Customer & Community, Stephen Thompson, said these smart lights are designed to reduce energy use and minimise light pollution, helping protect the island’s unique ecosystem while improving public lighting.
“Smart streetlights respond to their surroundings. They adjust brightness to deliver just the right amount of light. This means lower energy consumption and less disruption to native animals’ natural behaviours,” said Mr Thompson.
The trial is being delivered in partnership with Bass Coast Shire Council, Phillip Island Nature Parks and lighting technology company Signify. Together, the trial aims to balance community safety with environmental stewardship.
“These lights offer passive dimming and remote control, which not only saves energy but also allows us to respond faster to outages or faults,” added Mr Thompson.
Artificial light can interfere with animals’ circadian rhythms, alter behaviour and even affect survival rates. By using warm white LEDs and smart sensors, AusNet hopes to reduce these impacts, especially during sensitive periods like the annual shearwater bird migration.
The smart lighting upgrades will be installed at:
- The Esplanade near Surfies Point, Sunderland Bay – replacing existing lights with warm white LEDs and smart controllers.
- Phillip Island Road & Back Beach Road intersection – adding smart controllers to existing warm white LEDs.
- Cottesloe Ave near Woolamai Back Beach – upgrading to warm white LEDs with advanced proximity sensors.
- Old Bridge Drive – replacing lights with warm white LEDs and proximity sensors.
- Phillip Island Bridge – adding smart controllers to 17 lights and replacing two LEDs with warm white versions. These can be switched off during the shearwater migration to protect the birds.
Over the coming months AusNet will gather input from residents and visitors to assess lighting quality, safety, and environmental impact. This feedback will help shape future plans to expand smart lighting across AusNet’s distribution network.
“We’re listening closely to the community and monitoring wildlife activity so this technology delivers real benefits,” said Mr Thompson.
AusNet’s electricity distribution network spans 80,000 square kilometres across eastern and north-eastern Victoria, including Melbourne’s north and east. It serves over 802,000 customers and manages more than 180,000 streetlights, making this trial a potential blueprint for broader change.