Yinnar could be illuminated with clean and green lighting if a long standing community-driven plan to have solar lights installed to improve the safety of locals goes ahead.
Community members will meet with Latrobe City Council next week to discuss putting up a series of lights between the town recreation reserve and township.
Yinnar and District Community Association treasurer John Harris said the idea had been slated by the community for 10 years after lighting was identified as a priority project for the town.
He said town kids use the recreation reserve for football, netball and cricket training on week nights.
But the one-kilometre pathway back to town is so dark their parents have to come and pick them up instead of allowing them to walk home.
“The pathway from the town to the recreation reserve is substantially used during the day but it’s too dark at night There is no lighting at all and people don’t feel safe,” Mr Harris said.
The Yinnar community association has been working with the Latrobe Valley Community Power Hub to seek technical advice about the project.
Mr Harris said initial quotes to hook up conventional poles and wires were more than $150,000, but solar lighting would cut costs in half and could be progressively installed as more funds became available.
He said new lights would have solar panels with battery back-up that could be automatically triggered at dusk and programmed to be switched off after a certain time, or have movement sensors.
Mr Harris said the plan needed to meet various local council and VicRoads approvals which would then enable the community to apply for Latrobe Valley Authority grant money.
He hoped to submit a funding application in the next month or so.
