The Bay of Plenty's urban streets could soon be lined with cheaper and more efficient LED lighting thanks to an accelerated funding model rolled out by the government.

Transport Minister and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges yesterday unveiled a NZ Transport Agency policy change, backed by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, which will allow local authorities to access funding faster.

Transport Minister and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges discussing the policy change. Photo: Supplied.

In the next three years, NZTA and local government will be able to spend approximately $66 million on converting existing road lighting to LED. In the three years from 2018, current indications suggest another $39 million may be spent.

LED lighting will also be the default option for any new roads being built, and the government's Roads of National Significance and Accelerated Regional Roads upgrades will all be fitted with LED lighting where necessary.

'The accelerated renewal LED conversion programme will ensure capital is available to all councils that wish to undertake this work in the immediate future,” says Simon.

It is the government's vision to see New Zealand roads lit by LED, as opposed to the old fashioned high pressure sodium lamps, over the next decade and mostly in the next five years.

Annual road lighting costs nationwide sits at $50million, and estimates suggest the power-efficient change will save $10m per year.

The average life cost of LED lighting is about 20 per cent lower than current lighting due to running at 50 per cent lower energy and reducing maintenance costs by about 70 per cent.

'LED road lighting can also improve urban road safety by making colours and objects clearer to drivers, reduce crime and vandalism, and reduce light pollution because they have less of a light ‘spill',” adds Simon.

In turn, Simon is urging Tauranga and Western Bay councils to jump on board with the initiative.

'As a local MP I strongly urge our local councils to apply to NZTA for funding because they would be silly not to,” he says.

'This is a way to save a lot of money and it's also doing to right thing.”

Western Bay of Plenty District Council group manager for infrastructure services, Gary Allis, says council, in partnership with Westlink, will be looking at taking advantage of this new funding policy.

Gary says if it went ahead council will need to fund about 50 per cent of the capital costs, with NZTA funding the balance. The costs of a full replacement programme are not currently included in the 10 year budgets.

The new WestLink long term road maintenance contract already includes a five-year strategic partnership with ECCA to focus on energy saving initiatives.

Gary says the replacement of existing street lights with LEDs will be considered under this programme, assessing the capital costs of the upgrade and the ongoing operational costs.

He adds that power consumption is only one factor, with line charges making up more than 50 per cent of the payment to the energy companies.

Council, through its previous inroads contract, has already trialled LEDs in several locations. The most recent parks and reserves installation saw solar powered LEDs placed in Moore Park carpark in Katikati.

Tauranga City Council are yet to respond to SunLive's request for comment.