When the Floodwater Rose, the Lights Stayed On
How submersible solar lighting continued performing through major floods at Buchan Caves Reserve.
What happens when public pathway lighting disappears beneath floodwater?
At Buchan Caves Reserve in Victoria, more than 70 IP68 solar bollard lights were installed across a flood-prone river flat. During two major flood events, the SBL2 Series units were fully submerged and continued operating after the floodwater receded.
The surrounding infrastructure experienced significant inundation, yet the solar bollard lights continued to perform. SBL’s current project material reports that the units remained operational while underwater and were still functioning after the floodwaters receded.
Why IP68 solar bollard lights matter in flood-prone areas
Lighting a flood-prone public reserve creates a different set of design requirements from a standard pathway project.
The system must provide dependable illumination during normal conditions, while also being capable of surviving full immersion, moving water, debris, sediment and prolonged exposure to moisture.
That risk became very real at Buchan Caves Reserve. Parks Victoria reported that the December 2023 flood damaged roads, bridges, buildings and visitor facilities, with large quantities of water, soil, vegetation and debris moving through the reserve.
Designed for full submersion
The SBL2 Series was selected because it is designed for commercial infrastructure and carries an IP68 rating for submersion.
Unlike lighting systems that may only tolerate rain or temporary surface water, a fully submersible solar bollard must protect its battery, electronics, LED system and internal connections when the complete unit is underwater.
SBL and Highlux technical material describes the SBL2 as IP68 submersible, with testing conducted at three metres for 24 hours to simulate flood conditions.
Proven through two flood events
The most important evidence came from the site itself.
Jordan Gardiner, Ranger Team Leader at Buchan Caves Reserve, reported that the lights had been fully submerged by two floods and remained operational. His assessment was clear: he would recommend them for high environmental-risk areas.
This is what flood resilience looks like in practice. It is not simply an IP rating printed on a specification sheet. It is infrastructure continuing to perform after the conditions it was selected to withstand actually occur.
What this means for councils and specifiers
For riverside parks, floodplains, coastal pathways and other high-risk environments, lighting should be assessed against the conditions it may face over its full operating life.
Before specifying solar lighting for a flood-prone site, project teams should ask:
- Is the complete lighting unit rated for full submersion?
- What depth and duration has the product been tested against?
- Are the battery and electronics protected inside the sealed unit?
- Can the mounting system withstand moving water and debris?
- Will the warranty remain valid after flood exposure?
- Is there evidence of the product performing after a real flood?
Choosing the correct product early can reduce the risk of replacing damaged lighting infrastructure after each major weather event.
Project overview
- Location: Buchan Caves Reserve, Victoria
- Client: Parks Victoria
- Project partner: Highlux
- Product: SBL2 Series solar bollard light
- Quantity: More than 70 units, final number to be confirmed
- Application: River-flat pathways and public reserve lighting
- Key requirement: Full-submersion capability in a flood-prone environment
- Outcome: Lights remained operational following two flood events
Planning lighting for a flood-prone public space?
Explore the SBL2 Series or speak with Solar Bollard Lighting about pathway lighting designed for floodplains, riverside reserves, coastal environments and other high-risk locations.
