Navigating the regulatory laws that govern the provision of public lighting can seem a daunting task ­– but it doesn’t need to be.

Many widely-held beliefs on this topic are actually myth, according to Wallmans Lawyers’ Partner Carolyn Vigar, an expert in utility and local government laws.

“The public lighting area is where I see the greatest level of misunderstanding around the actual way the law applies to a service,” Vigar says.

“The experience I’ve had with public lighting projects across Australian jurisdictions is that the regulatory laws are often misunderstood, and that misunderstanding has almost become like myth.

“There are certain things that are believed, and the belief in those myths then really colours the way councils look at potential public lighting projects.”

Vigar will help separate fact from fiction when she speaks at the 3rd International Street Lighting and Smart Controls Conference, which will be held in Brisbane, March 14 – 17.

Vigar says one common misconception is the way property law relates to public lighting provision.

“The law of property is very well established, but the way it is believed to apply to public lighting infrastructure can create a barrier to councils providing those services directly, or engaging alternative third-party providers to provide those services.

For Vigar, it’s all about creating choice.

“Councils, like any other organisation that is charged for a service, should be able to look at the alternative options for provision of that service in a realistic manner, so their assessment of what is appropriate for their community isn’t biased toward particular options because there’s a misunderstanding about how systems of regulation work,” Vigar explains.

“Let’s have a genuine ability to assess options."

Don’t miss Carolyn Vigar’s presentation at the 3rd International Street Lighting and Smart Controls Conference, where she will speak about ‘Illuminating the path – dispelling the legal myths regarding council provision of public lighting services’.

Visit www.streetlightingconference.com.au to register.

Speaker bio

Carolyn Vigar is a specialist legal adviser on public law and regulation. She advises governments and regulated businesses in the energy, water, public lighting and transport sectors on issues of compliance, governance and reform. As a designer of regulatory systems, Vigar has worked with all tiers of government and the private sector on achieving policy and commercial objectives through regulatory systems.

During her career, Vigar has enjoyed considering the deployment of new or novel technologies within regulatory frameworks and the transition of utility services between the private and public sectors