Bright idea to dim Coffs Harbour’s harsh LED streetlights via remote control

In response to escalating complaints about excessively bright LED streetlights beaming into homes, remote control dimming technology will be installed in more than 1,200 lights on Coffs Harbour streets.

The upgrade - on key arterial and local roads - is due to start in late January and will cut carbon emissions and council’s energy bills, while benefitting wildlife in the area.

What happened: At the December 2025 meeting City of Coffs Harbour councillors committed $350,000 to the project. 

The upgrades will see a communication device called a “node” installed on the streetlights, which will allow the lights to be remotely dimmed.

• “The ability to dim or turn off lights in less-trafficked areas, as well as the directional nature of LEDs, minimises ‘light spill’ and ‘sky glow’, City of Coffs Harbour said.

Essential Energy’s Adele Finch told the Mid North Coaster the nodes talk to each other wirelessly and send information back to a central web-based system.

• “When operators want to dim the lights, they send a command through this system. The node then tells the light to use less power, which makes it dimmer. The change usually happens within about a minute, as long as there’s mobile signal.”

What’s involved: While Essential Energy contractors clean streetlights in Coffs Harbour, they will install nodes on 1,218 of the high wattage lights.

• An additional 22 LED streetlights in a Sandy Beach development will have new sensors compatible with the node technology installed, which will allow the lights to be dimmed.

When will it happen: Work is scheduled to start on January 27, however council is waiting on approval from Transport for NSW, the road authority of the Pacific Highway.

Cost savings: Based on current traffic data, City Infrastructure Director Andrew Beswick said “lights on the highway could be trimmed/dimmed by 55 percent on average, and by a further five percent after the bypass opens. This equates to between $63 to $90 in energy savings per light per year for 59 percent of the City’s large wattage lights.”

Despite the $350,000 outlay, council believes that over a 10-year period it will recoup between $300,000 and $700,000, depending on traffic volumes (and therefore light usage) after the scheduled bypass opening in late 2026.

What about drivers: Two traffic sensors will be placed at the Bray Street/Pacific Highway and West High Street/Pacific Highway intersections to capture traffic data that helps set safe, compliant lighting levels.

Finch said dimmed lights are designed to maintain safety and changes in light strength are rarely noticeable to drivers. 

• “The aim is to ensure lighting levels are appropriate for the road while reducing energy use,” Finch said.

LED in the home:  LED lights are the most energy efficient option by far, according to the Australian Government’s guide to environmentally sustainable homes.

• Australia has phased out many incandescent bulbs and is phasing out mains voltage halogen bulbs, to be replaced LED and CFL bulbs for energy efficiency.

Home energy advisor Seb Crangle told the Mid North Coaster that replacing halogen downlights with LED “makes a big difference to energy consumption”.

LED bulbs use around 80 percent less electricity to produce the same amount of light as a halogen bulb.

Thumbnail: Image supplied Essential Energy.