Dark Sky group sees national lighting controls protecting heritage
Martinborough’s founding dark sky reserve group had an early lucky break _ streetlights across Wairarapa’s towns were about to be changed in a bulk deal.
Instead, Waka Kotahi/NZ Transport Agency agreed to install “dark sky friendly” lighting _ even though that style was not their initial choice. But as the proposed replacement “didn’t cost any more,” (it saved on electricity) the more dark sky friendly alternative was installed.
Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve’s international designation followed two-plus years later – the second such international approval in New Zealand.
With a dozen dark sky places across the country, the local dark sky group is now advocating for nationwide regulatory change to ensure national public lighting controls are put into the law to address expanding light pollution. And to protect the future of our pristine skies.
Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve recommends that artificial light at night should be governed by national legislation and environmental standards – just as soil, air and water pollution currently are. Noise pollution is regulated and standards for it are established for enforcement at local council level.
In the absence of a national light pollution regulatory framework, every community has to mount its own efforts to persuade its local council to amend outdoor lighting provisions of the local District Plan. “That is time-consuming, expensive and very inefficient.” … Continue Reading
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