Mill Park All Abilities Play Space Park Lights
In 2021 the Mill Park All Abilities Play Space was dubbed ‘the happiest place in Mill Park’ by the Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and Minister for Solar Homes, Lily D’ambrosio.
The park is equipped with an impressive range of play equipment for people of all ages and abilities and includes picnic and barbecue facilities, toilets with a Changing Places facility, shelters and state-of-the-art Leadsun LED park lights featuring EDGE wireless control and monitoring.
Client
City of Whittlesea
Traditional Custodians
The Wurundjeri Willum Clan and Taungurung People
An All Abilities Play Space Used All Times of the Day
A magnet for families and people of all ages and abilities, the park’s attractions include multi-sensory play spaces, a water play area, a flying fox with accessible seat, trampolines, inclusive swings and slide and a full-sized basketball court. The centerpiece of the park is a soaring 4.5 metre multi-level climbing tower with accessible ramps and bridges.
Speaking to the Star Weekly, City of Whittlesea’s Chair of Administrators Lydia Wilson said the space was developed in consultation with the community. “Careful consideration has been put into the design of
the park, with multiple areas developed within the site to cater to different age groups and abilities,” Ms Wilson said.
A popular spot for families, elderly residents and people living with disabilities, it was essential that the park had good lighting to improve safety and accessibility and extend the hours it could be used, especially in winter when days are shorter.
Project Challenges
A high-profile project with a fixed deadline
This was a major project for City of Whittlesea with a big budget and multiple stakeholders including Local and State Government. City of Whittlesea contributed $3.5 million to the park and the Victorian
government provided a further $1 million from its Growing Suburbs Fund.
Given the high profile of the project and the added complexity of having multiple contractors working at the same time, it was essential that the project was tightly managed and the park lights were installed on
schedule.
Energy efficient park lights needed
City of Whittlesea’s environmental strategic objectives require it to improve the energy efficiency of Council buildings and facilities including solar and lighting upgrades. For the Mill Park All Abilities Play
Space, this meant that an energy efficient park lighting system was needed to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and demonstrate Council’s leadership position in this area.
A SMART Solution using Solar LED Park Lights
Leadsun engineers specified nineteen AE6 and AE3 SMART solar powered park lights operating on a dusk until dawn timer.
Fast Installation
Advanced Park Lighting with Wireless Control and Monitoring
The system also included EDGE Wireless Control and Monitoring – a first for an Australian park – allowing each light to be remotely configured and monitored so Leadsun technicians needed less time on site.
Remote real-time performance monitoring including battery life and solar charging rate also means reduced maintenance costs in future for City of Whittlesea and rapid response times if anything unexpected happens.
The Happiest Place in Mill Park
The Mill Park All Abilities Play Space was officially opened in March 2021 by the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and local Member for Mill Park, The Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP and City of Whittlesea Chair Administrator Ms Lydia Wilson.
An instant hit with locals, the park is now safer and more accessible and can to be used for longer each day thanks to the 19 Leadsun SMART LED lights illuminating the play spaces and car park.
City of Whittlesea Senior Landscape Architect Adrian Napolene said, ‘The safety of the All Abilities Play Space has been greatly increased through implementing Leadsun solar lights in both the play areas and car park.’
The new lights help the City of Whittlesea deliver on its environmental strategic objectives and are a prominent example of Council’s leadership role in this area. Most important of all, advanced EDGE wireless control and monitoring will help ensure the lights stay on at the happiest place in Mill Park.
Park Light Products used
- Solar module series – AE6 & AE3
- Solar size – 130W, 55W, 80W
- LED output programming: 5 Hours Full and 9Hrs DIM with PIR
- Pole footing type – Ragbolt footings
- Pole type – EzyTilt Poles & Powder Coated Poles
- Additional Solutions – EDGE
Lighting Applications
Lighting Compliance
- AS1158.3.1.202 PC3
- AS1158.3.1.202 PCD
- AS1158.3.1.202 PP4
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this project was undertaken, the Wurundjeri Willum Clan and Taungurung People. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
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