Solar RV Car Park Lighting | Railway Ave | Mareeba Shire, QLD

Background

Mareeba Shire Council undertook an upgrade of the Railway Avenue precinct to support increased tourism and local economic activity in Mareeba. As part of the redevelopment, the council expanded parking capacity to include 61 standard car spaces, six motorcycle bays, and 18 RV bays—transforming the site into a safer, more functional destination for travellers.

Lighting was identified as a critical requirement for safety, visibility, and after-hours usability. Council sought a fully off-grid solution that avoided trenching, cabling, and ongoing power costs, while still achieving full compliance with Australian lighting standards.

Project Overview

The Railway Avenue RV Park lighting upgrade required compliant illumination across mixed-use areas, including vehicle access roads, car parking zones, RV bays, and a designated pedestrian crossing. The solution needed to operate reliably year-round in North Queensland conditions without reliance on mains power.

Challenges

• Achieving AS/NZS 1158 P4 lighting levels for roads and car parking areas, alongside P6X lighting for a pedestrian crossing.

• Delivering consistent, compliant performance in a regional environment with variable weather conditions.

• Ensuring safe vehicle movement, clear visibility, and an improved night-time experience for RV users and pedestrians.

Solution

Green Frog Systems supplied and installed a fully solar-powered lighting system engineered to meet the dual requirements of roadway and pedestrian crossing illumination.

Installed lighting configuration:

• 11 × GFS-200 single-head 30 W solar street lights

• 3 × GFS-200 twin-head 30 W solar street lights

• Mounting height: 6 metres

Lighting categories achieved:

• P4 – Access road and car-parking zones

• P6X – Designated pedestrian crossing

The twin-head luminaires were deployed in higher-activity areas requiring increased uniformity and coverage, while single-head units provided efficient, consistent lighting across the remainder of the site.

Products Used

• GFS-200 Single-Head Solar Street Lights (30 W)

• GFS-200 Twin-Head Solar Street Lights (30 W)

Delivery & Implementation

Green Frog Systems worked closely with Mareeba Shire Council to develop a detailed lighting layout that balanced performance, compliance, and efficiency.

Key delivery outcomes included:

• No trenching, cabling, or grid connection required

• Reduced installation complexity and program risk

• Flexibility for future expansion or repositioning

• Long-term operational savings through zero power consumption and reduced maintenance

Detailed lighting simulations were completed to validate performance, with all designs independently reviewed and certified by an external lighting engineer. During and after installation, council teams provided on-site photography and feedback confirming strong, even illumination across the car park, RV bays, and pedestrian crossing.

Results

• Achieved full AS/NZS 1158 compliance across mixed-use parking and pedestrian areas.

• Improved night-time visibility for vehicles and RV manoeuvring.

• A clearly illuminated pedestrian crossing supporting safe foot traffic.

• Eliminated electrical infrastructure costs and ongoing power charges.

• Delivered a reliable, low-maintenance lighting asset for council.

Conclusion

The Railway Avenue RV Park upgrade demonstrates how solar lighting can be successfully applied to regional council infrastructure while meeting Australian Standards and reducing long-term operating costs. Through careful design, independent verification, and close collaboration with council, the project delivered a safer, more welcoming environment for travellers and the local community—without reliance on the electricity grid.