More than 20 new street lights being installed at Mount Louisa

Townsville City Council is installing new street lights on a high-traffic Mount Louisa road to help pedestrians feel safer on the street.

The lighting upgrades on Bayswater Rd and Weston St will include more than 20 street lights and are funded as part of the Queensland Government’s Works For Queensland Round 3 (W4Q3) program.

Infrastructure Services Committee chairperson Kurt Rehbein said the new lights would be hugely beneficial to pedestrians and motorists.

“Council is committed to updating infrastructure across the city. Adding new lights will help increase visibility in the area and help discourage crime,” Cr Rehbein said.

“Council will be installing lights along Bayswater Rd and Weston St, between the eastern roundabout at Crestbrook Dr and Woolcock St. This is about a kilometre of high-traffic road that will be safer for people walking in the area thanks to the addition of new lights.”

Cr Rehbein, who is also the representative for Division 7, said the new lights would put the finishing touches on that area of Mount Louisa.

“This is a very busy section of road, especially now that the Mount Louisa Walking Track has opened up to the public,” he said.

“Council has been working to unlock Mount Louisa’s potential as our city grows towards the north, and adding better lighting to this area is a fantastic way to make this part of the suburb feel safer for residents and visitors to the neighbourhood.”

Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said the works were funded by the Queensland Government’s Works for Queensland program.

“I am thrilled that Mount Louisa is going to benefit from the Queensland Government’s Works for Queensland Round 3, which has allocated $200 million in funding to support regional councils undertaking job-creating maintenance and infrastructure projects,” Mr Stewart said.

“Townsville has been fortunate enough to benefit from close to $70 million of infrastructure investment across the three rounds of works for Queensland, which is a great result for our region.”

Cr Rehbein said the installation of the lights started this month.

“Council’s construction crews are delivering the installation, which helps keeps costs low, while Downer Engineering Electrical is contracted to do the electrical work. The project will cost $410,000,” he said.

“Works are expected to last for about six weeks, weather permitting.

“During the next couple of months Council will also be starting work on a footpath project on Bayswater Rd between St Lucia Drive and IGA, as well as a widening and resurfacing project near Woolcock St. I’m looking forward to seeing these improvements made to Mount Louisa this year.”