Council Urged to Address Laneway Lighting Backlog
The City of Canning has been pushed to conduct a comprehensive audit of all public laneways following mounting requests from residents concerned about inadequate lighting and safety risks. Councillors Shen Sekhon and Paul Tuckek successfully advocated for the initiative during Tuesday's full council meeting and the previous week's city agenda briefing.
The councillors emphasized that the city faces a significant backlog of lighting requests across its network of more than 220 public access ways. They argued that a strategic approach was necessary to prioritize upgrades, particularly given the current annual budget of just $50,000 for public access way lighting improvements.
Geographic Distribution of Lighting Requests
The backlog of unresolved lighting requests is concentrated in several suburbs, with Willetton accounting for approximately 35 per cent of outstanding cases. Parkwood follows with 23 per cent, Lynwood with 20 per cent, while both Shelley and Ferndale account for 10 per cent each of the remaining requests.
In their rationale to council, Sekhon and Tuckek highlighted that public access ways provide crucial connections between streets, parks, schools, and public transport facilities. These pathways are regularly used by children, elderly residents, and other vulnerable community members who depend on safe, well-lit routes.
Unanimous Council Vote for Safety Initiative
The council voted 10-0 in favour of creating a priority list for lighting upgrades, with assessment factors to include community safety concerns, the existing backlog of requests, and potential risks to residents. Cr Sekhon reiterated that the limited budget necessitates a strategic approach to maximize resource utilization.
Proper lighting is essential to ensure these pathways are safe, accessible, and usable at all times, the councillors stated. They noted that adequate lighting deters antisocial behaviour such as vandalism or illicit activity while encouraging residents to engage in active transport and recreational activities after dark.
Deputy mayor Mark Bain raised concerns about the city being beholden to Western Power as the sole utility responsible for determining where and when to replace lighting globes. City executive Nick Stewart confirmed that discussions with Western Power about potential funding for lighting upgrades had stalled, but emphasized that the city continues to work with the utility to achieve better outcomes.
The chief executive is scheduled to present a comprehensive list and prioritization of unlit access ways to council in March next year, ahead of budget deliberations. The city may also seek State and Federal government funding to accelerate upgrades, alongside potential budget increases in the next financial year.
