Residents dark about Oceanway lights as they fear for safety

A GOLD Coast city leader has lashed out at residents complaining about council’s latest trialling of lights along the controversial Oceanway path.

The latest section of the Tugun-Bilinga Oceanway between the Bilinga Surf Life saving Club and Surf Street.

THIS photograph shows why southern Gold Coasters are so dark about their council.

Residents say a trial by officers to install lighting along a section of Oceanway is a farce with the new Coast pathway in darkness shortly after dusk.

But southern-based councillor Gail O’Neill is urging outspoken community groups to give council officers a chance to deliver this “fantastic project without scrutinising their every move” and complaining to the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Lighting on Oceanway looking south.

Tugun residents Terry and Jeanette Camp began lobbying the council more than two years ago about insufficient lighting between the Elizabeth Street laneway and Toolona Street.

Council decided to trial post-top lanterns with solar panels and vandal-resistant solar bollard-style lights on sections of the pathway.

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Photographs provided by the residents show little light is being shone on the pathways.

“Unfortunately, this trial installation was a failure in both the light output and visual aspects,” Mr Camp said.

The new Oceanway lights.

Area councillor Gail O’Neill had been advised that the light output was insufficient and the batteries failed to allow operation from dusk to dawn.

“An attempt was made to cover the rear of each light with duct tape to presumably stop rear lighting and a fruitless attempt to increase light output,” Mr Camp said.

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“Recently we found 50 per cent of these lights were removed by either contractors or council employees and what is unbelievable, these same lights were installed on the Tugun to Bilinga Oceanway path on the recently completed first section north of the Bilinga Surf Club.

“This is an absolute act of stupidity by those concerned considering the lights which were installed between Wyberba and Elizabeth streets for a trial failed completely.”

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Residents want the taller more effective lighting.

“To remove lights from this trial and reinstalled in a totally different location seriously questions the credentials of decision makers in these matters.”

Officers maintain the installation of lights was a trial and they were not placed on another section of pathway.

“The team have visited the site at night and are aware of a light deficiencies,” a council officer wrote.

How the path looks at night.

“The City has not installed this number of lights of this type along a section of path in another location across the city.”

Cr O’Neill updated the residents by email and advised that officers were told “that the lights originally installed were placed too close together”.

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A section of the Gold Coast Oceanway.

Friends of Currumbin secretary Gloria Baker wrote to Cr O’Neill to complain about the lighting on the new section of Oceanway north of the Bilinga Surf Club.

“The safety of our community members who use the oceanway at night is a priority.”

Cr O’Neill said the installation of the solar lighting occurred after public consultation with residents who would be most impacted with properties along the pathway.

“The final plans were presented and I believe welcomed by community groups, Tugun Progress Association and the Friends of Currumbin,” she said.

The council project manager had advised the light manufacturer of some of the issues as more lights were sourced with a better coverage.

“These lights have now been ordered. I find it very disappointing that this minor operational issue so early in the project should be subject of a media article,” Cr O’Neill said.