Energy-generating footpaths on the cards for Campbelltown

Campbelltown’s Queen St could become one of the country’s leading ‘smart streets’ with council to investigate a novel power-generating concept for the region.

Campbelltown’s Queen St could be the future home of energy-generating footpaths.

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Campbelltown’s Queen St could become one of the country’s leading ‘smart streets’ with council to investigate a novel power-generating concept for the region.

Inspired by London’s Bird St, Campbelltown City Council will consider the potential of energy-generating footpaths — where power is created by pedestrian foot traffic.

Campbelltown City Council is to investigate the potential of power-generating footpaths.

The innovative idea would bolster Campbelltown’s vision of being ‘Australia’s greenest city’, with plans already afoot to ultimately become a carbon neutral CBD.

Labor councillor Karen Hunt, the brainchild behind the idea, highlighted how energy-generating footpaths on London’s global-first Bird St powered bird noises or illuminated nearby light displays.

The motion was lodged by Cr Karen Hunt.

Cr Hunt said it was an opportunity for Campbelltown to be a leader in the field and believed it could be of major benefit to the city.
“I think it would be wonderful for Campbelltown to be the first city in NSW to have something like this,” she said.

“We are trying to make the city welcoming and get people out into the city to experience it allall that we have to offer.

“If we can get on the same level as them (London’s Bird St and a smart street in Washington DC), I think we have done pretty good.”

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Possible locations for the footpaths include Queen St by integrating the new technology with local heritage sites and local parks.

All councillors supported Cr Hunt’s motion, which also included an investigation into the benefits of providing electrical car charging stations in the Campbelltown area.