Improve lighting in our area to enhance safety and security to deter aggravated burglaries.

Subject: Request for Audit and Upgrade of Street Lighting – Area Bounded by Balwyn Road, Greythorn Road, Doncaster Road and Belmore Road

Dear Councillors,

I am writing as a resident of the area bounded by Balwyn Road, Greythorn Road, Doncaster Road and Belmore Road to request that the City of Boroondara undertake a comprehensive audit and review of street lighting within this precinct.

Our community has recently experienced a high number of aggravated burglaries, resulting in significant fear amongst residents. In this context, the adequacy, consistency, and quality of street lighting is a critical factor in both actual safety and perceived safety.

We note that public lighting in residential areas is governed by the AS/NZS 1158 series, particularly AS/NZS 1158.3.1 (Pedestrian Area Lighting). We also note the well-established principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), which recognise that appropriate lighting—especially consistent, uniform lighting can reduce opportunities for crime and increase natural surveillance. As an example, there are dark areas (non illuminated) along numerous sections of Duggan Street for example and numerous other streets in our defined area (Bounded by Balwyn Road, Greythorn Road, Doncaster Road and Belmore Road.

Accordingly, we respectfully request that Council:

Undertake an audit of existing street lighting across the defined area against AS/NZS 1158.3.1, including:

• Current P-category classifications

(Under the Australian and New Zealand lighting standards (AS/NZS 1158), Category P stands for "Pedestrian" area lighting).

• Measured illuminance levels (lux)
• Uniformity of lighting, including identification of gaps, shadowed areas, or tree canopy obstruction

Assess whether current lighting classifications remain appropriate, taking into account:

• Recent criminal activity in the area
• Night-time pedestrian movement and community use
• CPTED principles relating to visibility and passive surveillance
• Residents’ perception of safety

Consider targeted upgrades where warranted, including:

• Replacement or upgrade where necessary to modern LED luminaires with improved colour rendering
• Reclassification to a higher P-category where justified
• Improvements to lighting uniformity, not just overall brightness

Provide residents with feedback on the findings of the audit and any proposed upgrade program, including prioritisation and indicative timeframes.
We believe that a standards-based and risk-informed review of this defined precinct is both reasonable and necessary given current circumstances.
We also note that, as a public authority, the Council is required to act compatibly with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic). While street lighting is primarily an infrastructure matter, ensuring that public spaces are safe and accessible aligns with broader considerations of community safety and wellbeing.

We would welcome the opportunity to contribute further, including identifying specific locations of concern, and to participate in any consultation process.