Light pollution complaints

[solissydney (Ken)]

Here is your opportunity to either e-mail or write your local council, using this form letter, to express your concerns re light pollution. Please do something to help yourselves by assisting SOLIS. For further assistance e-mail me: solissydney@telstra.com Regards Ken

General Manager
Name and address of council


Subject: LIGHT POLLUTION


Since 1998 Sydney Outdoor Lighting Improvement Society Inc. (SOLIS) have been working to save the night sky by promoting better outdoor lighting. Sky glow is caused by unused outdoor up-lighting. This light is scattered in the atmosphere by particles and aerosols causing the air above urban areas to glow. The end result is that we are unable to see the 2.500 stars that would normally be seen under dark skies. Astronomers at Siding Spring Observatory near Coonabarabran NSW are affected in their research by sky glow from Sydney and suburbs. Reducing light pollution actually saves us money in the long term and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Obtrusive outdoor lighting is the cause of other environmental concerns, for instance: Safety Hazard, Health hazard, Public Nuisance and Energy Waste. E: solissydney@telstra.com W: www.solis.org.au


Dear Sir.
I seek Council's assistance in an important matter. As an amateur astronomer my concern is my
neighbour's light in number xx xxStreet. The light is illuminating my land preventing me enjoying my
right to enjoy the view of the night sky. Such uncontrolled and wasteful lighting does not comply with the
Australian Standard AS 4282 “Control of the obtrusive effects of outdoor lighting”.


Local governmens play an important role in controlling the obtrusive effects of outdoor lighting
through the development process, and in resolving neighbourhood disputes involving residents who
experience discomfort or annoyance from nearby outdoor lighting installations.

On June 16, 2009 the American Medical Association (AMA) voted unanimously to support efforts to
control light pollution because of the public health implication.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/48814012.html

I urge Council to include light pollution in their Development Control Plan.

Looking forward to your considered response




Name
Address
phone

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Nice form letter, shame it is not a national organisation, would do well. It is difficult for some smaller population states to get an organisation together to have much advocacy power.

Any thoughts at a national level, getting assistance if possible from Astronomy organisation as bases. Pooling resources as the issue affect everyone the same way.

[solissydney (Ken)]

Assistance, support from astronomers??? And pigs might fly

[TrevorW]

I don't know what a man needs to do but it's apparent from numerous efforts I've made that councils and govt are not really interested in curtailing greenhouse gases or reducing light pollution

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

I don't know what a man needs to do but it's apparent from numerous efforts I've made that councils and govt are not really interested in curtailing greenhouse gases or reducing light pollution

Forget it. They don't care. Seriously. They don't. Nor does our federal government. I won't say anymore, lest my comments be considered political (I am trying to behave myself Mike!).

Dave

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by dpastern

Forget it. They don't care. Seriously.

Not really, not seriously political either. Many legislation is created from minority groups. But the first sign of giving up, they don't need to care everyone that gives up has done it for them.

Hence the reason why many dedicated organisation are so powerful even when they represent such a small number of people.

As far as the post goes need to determin the reason for the post and that is primarily Astronomy "Light Polution". I would actually have put it in a different forum under "Observational Astronomy", much more relevent. Al-be-it involves a bit of politics it is still necessary to have a little talk about it.

For an organisation to succeed though is not to get too agressive as I have seen many organisation loose funding by being millitant.

[Stuart78 (Stuart)]

Thanks for the letter i just changed it a little in regard to the problem of lighting in my region and have sent it off to council, it doesn't hurt to just send a letter even if they don't care, chances are someday the person it goes to on the other end might care and try to take off with it, and it only took me 5 mins of my time, cheers Ken..








Stuart..

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by dpastern

Forget it. They don't care. Seriously. They don't. Nor does our federal government.

I rang my council re this and was very quickly dismissed. I imagine they see people with our concerns as fringe dwelling loonies.

As long as there are burglaries and people getting assaulted at night, the huge weight of public sentiment will demand populated areas to be floodlit in order for people to feel safe.

[TrevorW]

Unfortunately it's a false pretence most burgularies happen during the day and if someone can't see you in the dark then how do they assault you. PS: what are you doing out after 12 anyway

[leon]

Good one Trevor, yea Geoff, what are you doing out after dark, you should be at the helm of the scope .

Leon

[solissydney (Ken)]

Hi Malcolm.
Well done Stuart

Unless we get our fingers out, and switch our minds from negative to positive, how can anything ever happen concerning obtrusive outdoor lighting?
I met the anti-smoke campaigner about ten years ago. And then, it had taken him twenty years to get to that stage. It will take a long time to get somewhere, is that a reason to give up? Start sending out the form letter, alter it to suit, but not the beginning relating to SOLIS. Send out a letter often as you can,as I have said, the more complaints councils get each year the sooner they have to act on this, to us, important matter. The SOLIS committee members are not sitting on their bums, each of us are doing what we are capable off, in the time we have to spare.
For instance, twice I have driven to Bulli Tops, at my own expense, with a lighting designer, helping Christian, an amateur astronomer from Thirroul, combat massive over-lighting from the newly built Southern Gateway Centre built by Wollongong Council at a cost of $11000000. I have a 10 mm thick folder containing corresspondence relating the the complex.
We have two new weapons at our disposal namely. The two articles are:
Night shifts spark cancer pay-out, from Denmark, and US Physicians join light pollution fight.
Ken