Aussies 'over the moon' as push to curb light pollution takes off

Sydney area using covered street lights in bid to spark interest in night sky, save energy

- Jonathan Pearlman

For The Straits Times SYDNEY Until recently, 71-year-old Anne Spencer, who lives in northern Sydney, has taken little interest in the night sky and by her own admission rarely bothered to "look up".

Blame it on light pollution, where excessive or inappropriate use of outdoor lights not only affects the ability to observe stars, but has also been linked to detrimental effects on human health and wildlife behaviour.

But five years ago, Ms Spencer's local suburb of Palm Beach leafy beachside community in the city's north began working on addressing light pollution.

The community's aim was to create Australia's first internationally accredited Urban Night Sky Place - an area designed to enable a natural night-time experience despite significant artificial light in its surroundings.

The local Northern Beaches Council backed the plan, which involved introducing covered street lights that prevent light escaping and installing warmer, less-intensive lighting at businesses and facilities such as public toilets.

Despite some residents expressing concerns about safety - studies show that bright street lighting deters crime and reduces road accidents the public largely backed the plan as a way to improve the environment, reduce energy usage and generate community interest in the night sky.

A survey found that 80 per cent of residents supported the move, with 17 per cent opposed and the rest, non-committal.

Finally, on June 25, 2024, a 62ha area of Palm Beach was formally designated as an Urban Night Sky Place by DarkSky International, a US-based organisation that aims to protect the night sky using education, advocacy, retrofits and community science.