Street Light

toetoe (Peter) · #1 12-03-2005, 10:58 AM

This new street light is becoming a real pain at the side of my house. I`m thinking of stringing up my blue tarp like a tennis net in the yard to give me a shadow. Any help or other tips on my problem would be welcolmed.

ving (David) · #2 12-03-2005, 11:03 AM

that'd work.
you could also try emailing your local council. thry might be able to put something up thats not illuminating your yard.

Vermin (Tom) · #3 12-03-2005, 11:35 AM

Aiming a cheap red laser pointer at the daylight sensor is supposed to turn it off.

toetoe (Peter) · #4 12-03-2005, 12:04 PM

Ring the council i may have to, do if me tarp dosn`t work.
I can get a laser but i don`t see a sensor tho.

Starkler (Geoff) · #5 12-03-2005, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vermin
Aiming a cheap red laser pointer at the daylight sensor is supposed to turn it off.

I have seen this advice before, though I dont know I would want to be liable to any litigation should any accident or crime occur near that streetlight.

A light shield such as a tarp or this would be the simplest solution.
If its a new light I doubt you'll get any cooperation from the council but it might be worth a try.

Striker (Tony) · #6 12-03-2005, 01:30 PM

Be careful using the laser as Starkler has suggested...speak to council if that doesn't work........I suggest...

toetoe (Peter) · #7 12-03-2005, 01:40 PM

I like that idea Geoff, but i think i could get my tarp up a lot higher than the screen.
I think i will give the laser a miss tho.

rumples riot · #8 12-03-2005, 01:46 PM

Contact the council and put forward this argument in a civl manner. Remind them that they are supposed to comply with the Light emission requirements set down in legislation. That under such legislation they are required to supply and install shielding that will direct the light onto the ground around the pole and street. That as it stands is a breach of your right to quiet enjoyment of your property (rented or owned makes no difference). Such a shield will reduce you LP by nearly half. I would even offer to pay half for the shielding as a token of good faith. If they refuse contact your local member of parliment and explain the situation and why you want it sorted. They will try and help.

Just remember, not to get angry with anyone you speak to, they will be less likely to help if they think that you are an angry individual. Do not use a laser or any other implement to damage the light or its sensor. You could be charged with malicious damage or criminal conduct. Both incur heavy fines and provide a criminal conviction and or jail time.

Good luck with your crusade.

toetoe (Peter) · #9 12-03-2005, 02:02 PM

Thanks Paul.
My Mrs was reading your post over my shoulder and said "there you go, talk to the council" scared the crappa out of me, didn`t know she was there. Looks like she may be showing a bit more intrest into my hobby.

I will talk to them and i am sure things will work out, the tarp will do for now, I just bought some nylong string stuff to tie it up with so i better go do it now as i gotta go to work at 3pm and finish at 8pm, a bit too dark to go playing around with step ladders all tho the street light will help.

rumples riot · #10 12-03-2005, 02:09 PM

Just remember "great truths come from powerful arguments." Blackstone CJ 1861. "Walk quietly but carry a big stick" Teddy Roosavelt American President 1901.

Starkler (Geoff) · #11 12-03-2005, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rumples riot
Contact the council and put forward this argument in a civl manner. Remind them that they are supposed to comply with the Light emission requirements set down in legislation.

Paul do you have any info or references to this legislation?
If so I would to apply it considering im afflicted by about half a dozen street lights.

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #12 12-03-2005, 03:28 PM

The Astronomical Society has a little page on light pollution, may give you some ideas.

http://www.assa.org.au/lightpollution/

http://www.assa.org.au/lightpollutio...me more ideas.

I have a streetlight right on the side of my yard and directs light straight onto our property, it's called light trespassing. I was going to do something about it a while ago but didn't, I fear now though that it may be too late for me it has been there for 8 years.

rumples riot · #13 12-03-2005, 03:28 PM

Let me go off and do some research on the specific Act and I will get back with the right provisions and the regulations, and perhaps which treaty we are a signatory to.

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #14 12-03-2005, 06:45 PM

I know Martin Lewicki of ASSA has done some research, not sure if he can help or not.

toetoe (Peter) · #15 12-03-2005, 08:27 PM

Nice input guys,
pls keep us all informed, after 8 years that might be a bit tough to do something about. Mylight is onlt about 3 weeks old as they are continuing the road across a creek with a new bridge as well. The sooner i talk to the council the better.

Starkler (Geoff) · #16 13-03-2005, 11:12 AM

I have emailed a Mr Clarke of the A.S.V. who has written a detailed paper on light pollution issues, asking for advice.
Hopefully he will know where I can find a big stick

Starkler (Geoff) · #17 15-03-2005, 07:04 PM

I have received a very comprehensive and helpful reply from Mr Clarke. I'm now awaiting his permission to quote him in here as I'm sure what he had to say would be of great interest to many of our members.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #18 15-03-2005, 11:54 PM

Peter most of the information you need is in the Australian Standard AS 4282 "Control of the obtrusive effects of Outdoor lighting."

Let me know how you go with your council. Mine said sure they were happy to put up a shade if:
1. I got everyone else in the street to sign saying they didn't mind the light being covered
2. I was prepared to wear the full cost of having the shade installed.

Which I promptly laughed at, then quoted the Aust Standard. The response? "I'm sorry the person you need to speak to is not in the office at the moment. Could you ring back at a later time?"

And so the battle begins.

toetoe (Peter) · #19 16-03-2005, 08:04 AM

I am trying to think of someone who i know who knows someone in the council, that may help a bit perhaps. I will do this the right way but not until i have a few cards up my sleeve that i can play one by one with. It is a real p...off when you know what your talking about with someone then they back off passing the buck onto another person as you mentioned Paul.

Starkler (Geoff) · #20 16-03-2005, 09:27 AM

Mr Clarke has given me permission to quote his email with some edits in capitals.

This applies in Victoria and I don't know how much is applicable in other states.

------------------------------------------------------------------

There are moves afoot to apply legal constraints to light pollution and light trespass in Victoria, but don't hold your breath. The present situation isn't much of a vote loser so it is unlikely that much will change until the US and UK are visibly further down the track. Meanwhile the VICTORIAN government keeps patting itself on the back about the growing economy. This includes a 4% or more annual increase in lighting expenditure by local councils across Victoria, way above the Kyoto growth rate for Australia. It is not sustainable, but the government really doesn't wish to know that.

The Australian Standard (1158) that governs street lighting is currently being revised. I UNDERSTAND THAT most of the committee members involved are from the lighting industry, and have AN INTEREST in more and brighter lighting. DOUBTLESS
OTHERS AS WELL AS MYSELF have advised them that it is light emitted just above the horizontal that causes most skyglow problems. Fixing this by using full cutoff (FCO) fittings also goes a long way to fixing the problems of streetlight glare and light trespass, but the attitudes against change are like a rock in a hard place.

Anyway, to answer your question, the VICTORIAN ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITY has advised that local councils have the power and responsibility to control lighting nuisance, despite the absence of specific regulations in most council areas. If there is any argument about the regulatory framework for doing this, government bodies DO have a responsibility to apply and uphold Australian Standards.

Unfortunately, vested interests ensured that AS 4282-1997, 'Control of the obtrusive effects of outdoor lighting', specifically excludes street lighting and advertising lighting from its requirements.

Regardless, 4282 does give light trespass maxima that are reasonable and achievable, and I have argued with some success that its requirements should apply in the absence of any other constraints.

In general, councils will put shields on streetlights, even if it does require repeated requests. Sometimes they charge as much as $75 per fitting for shields. At other times and places, the fitting is free, which is how it should be in my view.

The new energy efficient streetlights now being trialed IN VICTORIA offer little hope for improvement because virtually the whole industry SEEMS TO BE unconcerned OR UNEDUCATED about waste light.

In the US, the number of FCO cobra heads being manufactured well exceeds the number of semi cutoff (SCO) cobra heads. Yet Australian councils seem to be unaware of the change, or they claim that FCO fittings aren't available.
However, they are fitted on the Tullamarine and Calder freeways near Essendon airport, and elsewhere, and are clearly superior in the low-glare visibilty they provide.

Try talking to your council's environmental/health/greenhouse officers.

Please get back to me if you succeed or get nowhere. I have a big stack of literature that can be used/adapted for trying to get councils to see their own bad practices.

Barry Clark

PS LP14 is a bit out of date. LP140 is also on the ASV website and is more up to date about lighting laws and regulations, AND IT HAS SOME OTHER INFORMATION THAT LP CAMPAIGNERS MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE AS WELL.