Light Pollution at Swanbank, Ipswich, Qld

[thunderchildobs]

Please help fight light pollution.

The Swanbank power station at Ipswich, Queensland is polluting the night sky.
How bad is this flood lighting? Why do companies do this?
Apparently this is for aircaft safety.
Well the space shuttles and international space certainly will be able to see the power station towers.
Why are not the flood lights mounted on top and pointed down?
The TV station transmitters on Mt Cootha, Brisbane are lit by a number of red lights, that can easily be seen allover Ipswich and Brisbane.
Why cannot Swanbank do this?
If you do not care about light pollution, who is paying for the wasted lights?
The power station consumers?

How would the Swanbank management like it if we dump rubbish on their golf course , or in their kids favourite park or sports ground.
What gives them the right to pollute the night sky and destroy our astronomy?

Most urban astromoners unfortunately accept that there is light pollution in a city and there is a need for safety lighting, but there is no excuse for this at Swanbank.

I am a amatuer astronomer who enjoys looking at the stars at night.
From my backyard observatory I search for exploding stars (Supernovas).
I was officially credited with a co-discovery of a supernova in 1997.
The ever increasing amount light pollution is making it harder for
astronomers to make discoveries and enjoy the hobby.

The stars of the Southern Cross appear on the Australian flag.
Will this be the only place where people can see the stars?
Will the stars be removed from flag If people cann't see them, there
is no point having them on the flag.

If you wish to complain please email CSenergy at EnergyInfo@csenergy.com.au

or contact the Queensland Times (QT), Ipswich's local paper.
I had a letter to the editor based on the above published on December 7th.
letters@qt.com.au

(Sorry for rant, but I think most astronomers will understand )

Brendan Downs brdowns@gil.com.au
Thunderchild Observatory http://www.home.gil.com.au/~brdowns/
phone 07-3812-2813

[iceman (Mike)]

eww that's terrible.

Good luck with the fight, Brendan. It is certainly an astronomers' worst nightmare.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by thunderchildobs

If you do not care about light pollution, who is paying for the wasted lights?

I think they have their own power supply.... sorry....

though..... I just noted today that the park in my street just erected 4 very tall poles at each corner of the football field.... must be for flags.... I hope! Lucky I'm moving.....

[toetoe (Peter)]

That is just ridiculous and nothing but an absolute abuse of power. Good luck to you Brendan and welcome to IIS.

[stephenmcnelley]

That is a great website incentive you have created Brendan, it visually expresses the plight of suburban astronomers and the future of amatuer astronomy in general in subtle ways.
I am lobying the instillation of hatted streetlights for this area to help decrease the incidence of upward streetlight loom. As for industrial lighting though we are hitting our heads against a brick wall, unless someone somehow can think of a way to approach developers and contractors in an equitable way that appeals to their sense of science and community.

[GrahamL]

wow thats pretty bad.. brisbane/ surrounds lightglow is pretty easily
seen from a dark site down our way 200 klms away
lttle wonder with stuff like this happening .. my folks live round balmoral
and the light pollution from industry / residential around the river there
almost completely wipes the sky of stars when the moons up

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I'll back you on this one Brendan.
It's bad enough having to put up with the light pollution from Brisbanes urban sprawl. We don't need more unnecessary lights.
Glad to see you finally joined up.
Welcome aboard.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Hi Brendan,

Most members in here would be aware of my current Proposal to council for Obtrusive Lighting Reduction in our town here at Snake Valley, but as you are a newbie here (welcome) you may not be aware of the fight you are in for.

To start with, I wish you all the luck under the sun coz the pic of yours shows how disastrous it really is.

Some of the facts I have found out along my path to the proposal I have submitted:

*there are no laws governing lighting, there are only regulations.
*the regulations are not enforced
*the regulations can be broken with a good excuse
*many organisations (and councils) only look at the safety aspect of bright lighting
*some organisations (and councils) may consider better lighting control if they can be convinced (with proven facts) that they can save on their power bill
*organisations (and councils) do not consider individual complaints or proposals.


Apart from getting local support (in large numbers), it is imperitive to involve the environmental authority and your state or district branch of the equivelent of our 'Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance'. Their whole purpose is to fight against your (our) light pollution problem. Your local Environmental 'Greenies' group often has lots of contacts and clout too.

Also, a tip from experts in this field that are helping with our proposal: Don't call it 'Light Pollution'. Call it 'Obtrusive Lighting!'

I hope that helps for a start.

[h0ughy (David)]

done my bit brendon, I sent them an email. I will be honest, I dont think the act and the LEP's have been tested legally with respect to light pollution. might be worth a try

[fringe_dweller]

forget it guys, we have lost the war - I have recently seen the vanguard of the barbarians at the gate/LP stormtroopers greatest weapon ever. recently in parks around adelaide I have noticed a new phenonemon sprouting magically and brightly out of the turf - the instant Solar Powered Streetlight - these double edged swords of demacles that came crashing down hit me where it hurts, and how
while on the face of it, we should all logically be rejoicing for the hope for the planet, and most people would naturally think this, reducing greenhouses fossil fuel use ect.
but what it also means is that they can now feasibly put lighting any damn place they want now - on top of Uluru, you name it! - coz the extremely cost prohibitive problem of either laying underground cable ( specially for vegetation/roots sensitive areas, like in parks) and utilities fee's installation ect. has been removed.
these units appear (from browsing the net and online council notes) to cost somewhere between 5K and 10 AU, I am sure bulk is cheaper of course.
Councils everywhere seem to be very excited abut them and are going at hammer and tong, from all appearances, EDIT: so in effect there will be more lights than ever, oh the irony! and believe me they are VERY VERY bright and gutsy, i did begrudgingly admit they at least directed the lights downward properly, i was surprised.

Its funny Brendan, my very first post here was also a rant about LP, as a result of the last 10 years booming economy/housing boom, spin off downside in the destruction of much of the last vestiges of real dark sky that was within easy reach locally.
I wish you luck! in that pic looks like the twin towers memorial laser display!! you could always just pretend they are aurora, like I have to do!

I reckon most non-astromers hate the dark, and are greatly turned on by displays of luminance and pretty lights, as symbols of our domination over nature, and urban vanity/civic pride - winess the xmas carry on with houses!

[acropolite (Phil)]

Power wastage by authorities is irresponsible to say the least. Unfortunately Australian standards, together with consultants (whose main interest is their % fee on construction costs) are an open invitation to excess. In my area I have a mercury vapour light every second house along the street, Five years ago there were 3 in total now there are 7 (soon to be 12). A roundabout recently constructed 1Km away (with no pedestrian traffic and no footpaths) has 10 sodium vapour lights where one (also unnecessary) covered the intersection it replaced. My night skies are rapidly disappearing as well. We can all write to pollies and councillors, but IMO the only solution that will work is some enforcable laws regarding light pollution.

[glenc (Glen)]

I sent this to EnergyInfo@csenergy.com.au
I am writing to complain about the badly designed lights that shine upwards from Swanbank power station. They waste money and energy, increase CO2 emissions and ruin the night sky for wildlife and astronomers. I live 150km south of Brisbane and even at that distance my northern horizon has an annoying light pollution glow. Swanbank's lights are one of the main reasons for this. If you must have bright lights please mount them at the top of the chimneys and shine them down. You only need moderately bright red lights however for aircraft safety.



I didn't email this but all we need is streetlights that are as bright as the full moon that shine down and not sideways. If pedesrians need more light than that they should carry a torch. Lights that shine in a drivers eyes are dangerous.

[acropolite (Phil)]

I doubt that bright lights shining up would be any advantage to aviation traffic, as the bright light shining upwards would tend to affect the night vision of pilots overflying the area. It may be worth dropping a line to CASA pointing out that the lights may be a potential aviation hazard.

[thunderchildobs]

Thanks for the support and the emails.
With the short nights and summer storms, i won't have much chance to a lot of serious observing for the next couple months. On the positive side it does give time rant and complain to various levels of governments and their departments.

[h0ughy (David)]

one question Brendon, now that your here, do you like it?

[stephenmcnelley]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

one question Brendon, now that your here, do you like it?

Have a laugh and enjoy..

[thunderchildobs]

Should have joined long time ago.

[h0ughy (David)]

From: White, Lisa [mailto:LWHITE@csenergy.com.au] On Behalf Of EnergyInfo
Sent: Monday, 11 December 2006 6:10 PM
To: David Hough
Subject: RE: turn your lights off!!

Hi David

Thank you for your email. CS Energy installed the floodlights on the chimneys of Swanbank B power station to comply with recent regulations from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. When determining where to place the lights, CS Energy carried out a risk assessment of floodlights near the chimney bases versus warning lights placed up the length of the chimneys. The Swanbank B chimneys are each 137 metres high and over 30 years old. It was determined that installing warning lights could pose a safety risk for the personnel who would need to climb the chimneys to install and maintain the lights. The safety of CS Energy's people is our highest priority, so it was decided to instead install the floodlights near the bases of the chimneys. The floodlights were installed in such a way so they do not shine into the boilerhouse or local residents' homes. Please contact me if you require any further information.

Yours sincerely

Lisa White
Marketing and Communication Adviser
CS Energy
GPO Box 769
Brisbane Qld 4001
Ph: (07) 3222 9386
Fax: (07) 3222 9323
Mob: 0419 749 860
Email: Lwhite@csenergy.com.au
www.csenergy.com.au
-----Original Message-----
From: David Hough [mailto:h0ughy@tpg.com.au]
Sent: Friday, 8 December 2006 8:58 PM
To: EnergyInfo
Subject: turn your lights off!!
There is absolutely no logical reason why you should have lights facing up into the atmosphere like that. The night sky is for all people. And your light is polluting this environment. Either redirect the lighting down or turn these off. You don’t need to light the smoke stacks like that, aircraft warning lights installed along the full length of the towers would be far better and more noticeable. And you would probably blind the pilots to boot.

David Hough

[Lee]

Maybe if they used high intensity LED arrays up the stacks they'd need bugger all maintenance, and would use a lot less power as well....
Would they be bright enough for aviation warning lights???

[fringe_dweller]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

The Swanbank B chimneys are each 137 metres high and over 30 years old. It was determined that installing warning lights could pose a safety risk for the personnel who would need to climb the chimneys to install and maintain the lights.

wow, if the stacks are that decrepit - one wonders for the safety of the people that have to work there - personally I am guessing thats the most interesting way of basically saying - it was cheaper to do it that way - I have ever read i want to be in the spin biz, I feel left out now