Lighting the Way: Sustainable Illumination for the Greening the Pipeline Initiative

• Completed2024
• ClientWyndham City Council
• Sales PartnerBuckford Illumination Group
• Landscape ArchitectOutlines Landscape Architecture
• Electrical EngineerAdvanced Building Consulting
• VideographyBeVisuals
• PhotographyIP Media

The Greening the Pipeline initiative is revitalising Melbourne’s historic Main Outfall Sewer (MOS) corridor, transforming it from disused infrastructure into a thriving green spine that connects communities from Werribee to the city. Led by Wyndham City Council, the project aims to enhance active transport links, increase urban canopy, and create welcoming public spaces that acknowledge and celebrate the area’s cultural heritage.

As part of this transformation, WE-EF LIGHTING, in partnership with Buckford Illumination Group and PowerStack Energy, contributed a smart and sustainable lighting solution that supports safer, more accessible community use – especially after dark.

The project utilises the WE-EF VFL520 street and area luminaires fitted with “Eco Step Dim Motion” technology and PIR sensors, integrated into PowerStack solar poles. This system offers both energy efficiency and minimal environmental impact through intelligent control programming:

• Lights activate at 17:00 if ambient light falls below 100 lux, and turn off either at 07:00 or once 200 lux is reached.
• From 17:00 to 22:00, luminaires operate at full brightness (100%) without motion sensing.
• Between 22:00 and 07:00, the lights remain off (0%) unless motion is detected. On detection, they gently ramp up to 100% brightness and stay on for 15 minutes, ensuring safe passage while limiting unnecessary illumination.

This approach dramatically reduces energy consumption and light pollution, while supporting biodiversity and community wellbeing in what was previously an unlit corridor.