Council & Public Events · Sunshine Coast

Working With Sunshine Coast Council

Headland Park's promenade is iconic—ocean views, walking paths, natural landscape—but by 6 PM in winter, it went dark. Sunshine Coast Council wanted to extend the usable evening period (and encourage evening foot traffic to nearby businesses) without compromising the landscape's integrity. We designed a subtle, low-level lighting strategy: warm LED ground wash on the promenade path (3000K, low intensity), positioned at ankle height so the light illuminated foot traffic hazards without spilling skyward or washing out the natural darkness above. We also added six directional LED uplights on the dramatic rock formations and native trees, warm colour temperature, positioned to accentuate the landscape's natural contours rather than flatten them with generic lighting. The result was counterintuitive: the promenade felt darker (because we weren't blasting overhead light), but it was much safer and more usable. Evening visitors reported feeling more confident walking the paths, and the surrounding restaurants saw a 35% increase in after-dinner strolls, which converted to post-meal bar and coffee sales. The lighting was designed to be powered by the park's existing pathway electrical infrastructure, so there were zero additional permanent installations—making council environmental approval straightforward and maintenance-free. Headland Park became a case study for how to extend outdoor space utility without creating light pollution or environmental impact. That's the maturity we're chasing: lighting that serves the community and respects the environment simultaneously.