By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A new light may be shone on the trees and monuments gracing Berwick’s High Street by Christmas time.
Casey Council has approved the use of LED lights on the trees, the Lord Casey statue and footpaths in the picturesque Berwick Village gateway.
In a meeting on 19 September, the council approved stage-one works for eight coloured up-lights on four trees and a white spotlight on the Lord Casey statue at a cost of up to $60,000.
“The lighting of such elements would create and dramatically improve the western entry into the village, creating a sense of arrival for people in cars and on foot,” a council report stated.
“The lighting would also aid pedestrian safety in this area and improve visibility for people gathering at Anzac memorial services when the area is extremely crowded.”
The lights were designed to withstand harsh weather and vandalism.
They would be installed outside the trees’ “critical root zones”, and would have no impact on the trees’ health.
Councillor Timothy Jackson said, “it will really make that area come alive at night time.”
The council will aim to accede to a Berwick Business Group request that the lights be installed and switched on before Christmas.
It ruled out the BBG’s desire to reinstate decorative lights in some of the large trees due to the impact on their health.
In the council’s concept plan, there are also future plans to light footpaths and trees at the eastern end of the median strip.
