The lights will be progressively rolled out in the second half of this year across Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra, Glen Innes Severn, Tenterfield, Inverell, Gwydir and Walcha local government areas.

Developed and administered by Regional Development Australia Northern Inland, the lights project received $576,000 of funding from the federal government.

The project – the first broad scale rollout of LED technology in regional NSW – is also a trial by Essential Energy of two models of LED streetlights to compare reliability and performance. The number of lights to be replaced has been increased from the original 4700 to over 5000 which further improves the return on the funding to the government.

The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage also provided funding for the services of a lighting expert to assist in project development.

LED street lights consume far less energy at around 24 watts each, and will replace existing high-energy lights consuming between 50 and 100 watts. At current street light energy costs, this will save the seven Councils in excess of $200,000 per year and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1000 tonnes per year of CO2 equivalents.

Federal MP Barnaby Joyce said the project would save councils money that could be redirected to other services. Installation of the new lights is set to begin in July 2015.