Local Government Light Pollution Survey

The Australasian Dark Sky Alliance (ADSA) is a not-for-profit charity educating the public and decision-makers on the impacts of light pollution to our natural night time environment.

The Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) has contracted ADSA to develop a report investigating the most appropriate mechanisms to:

Conserve, create and protect dark skies in Australia.

In order to do this, we are assessing and identifying dark sky sites and recommending the best mechanisms that would lead to enhanced environmental outcomes and reduced light pollution.

As decision makers with regards to the use of green spaces, the outdoor lighting of venues and the well-being of your constituents, we would be interested in your thoughts and feedback.

All data gathered is anonymized and the information obtained will only be accessed by necessary ADSA staff, held securely and not distributed to any third parties.

We would highly value your responses in the following survey that should take no more than 5 - 10 minutes.

The survey will close Monday 28th FEB 5pm AET

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* 1. What is your State or Territory?

QLD

NSW

TAS

ACT

VIC

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* 2. What is your LGA? (Optional)

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* 3. How much do you know about the Dark Sky Movement and the conservation of the night time environment?

0 - nothing never heard of it

50 - a little bit

100 - lots and actively involved

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 4. Does your council: (please select all that apply)

Have smart lighting installed?

Have public complaints about light trespass, non-compliance with AS4282 or similar?

Outsource lighting design and specification?

Have a Lighting Master Plan, night sky protection strategies in place or similar?

Refer to the National Light Pollution Guidelines with all development applications?

Maintain a standardised lighting briefing strategy that guides your consultants?

None of the above

Other (please specify)

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* 5. Does your council: (please select all that apply)

Wish to engage in night time conservation but don’t know how?

Encourage conservation of the night time environment by modelling good lighting practices?

Have an understanding that light at night negatively impacts wildlife, flora and human health?

Educate your constituents with regular night-time conservation activities (webinars, public forums, spotlighting, stargazing events etc)?

Have no interest in light pollution mitigation strategies?

Have public complaints about light trespass, non-compliance with AS4282 or similar?

None of the above

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Does your council: (please select all that apply)

Intend to apply for a dark sky designation with International Dark - Sky Association?

Have an area with natural dark sky values that could or should be protected?

Know about the International Dark Sky Association (IDA)?

Know about the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance (ADSA)?

None of the above

Other (please specify)

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* 7. How likely are the following mechanisms to engage your council to investigate dark sky conservation efforts?

	Not likely	Somewhat likely	Very likely
Tax incentives for residents	Tax incentives for residents Not likely	Tax incentives for residents Somewhat likely	Tax incentives for residents Very likely
Conferences and networking opportunities	Conferences and networking opportunities Not likely	Conferences and networking opportunities Somewhat likely	Conferences and networking opportunities Very likely
Hands on experiences for your constituents (stargazing, spotlighting, light pollution monitoring)	Hands on experiences for your constituents (stargazing, spotlighting, light pollution monitoring) Not likely	Hands on experiences for your constituents (stargazing, spotlighting, light pollution monitoring) Somewhat likely	Hands on experiences for your constituents (stargazing, spotlighting, light pollution monitoring) Very likely
Interest from Local Councillors	Interest from Local Councillors Not likely	Interest from Local Councillors Somewhat likely	Interest from Local Councillors Very likely
Tax incentives for industry	Tax incentives for industry Not likely	Tax incentives for industry Somewhat likely	Tax incentives for industry Very likely
Light being listed as a pollutant	Light being listed as a pollutant Not likely	Light being listed as a pollutant Somewhat likely	Light being listed as a pollutant Very likely
Tax incentives for council	Tax incentives for council Not likely	Tax incentives for council Somewhat likely	Tax incentives for council Very likely
Awards and recognition	Awards and recognition Not likely	Awards and recognition Somewhat likely	Awards and recognition Very likely
Material on the benefits of dark sky spaces	Material on the benefits of dark sky spaces Not likely	Material on the benefits of dark sky spaces Somewhat likely	Material on the benefits of dark sky spaces Very likely
Awareness raising media packages	Awareness raising media packages Not likely	Awareness raising media packages Somewhat likely	Awareness raising media packages Very likely
Government strategies	Government strategies Not likely	Government strategies Somewhat likely	Government strategies Very likely
Independent organisation to assist implementation of strategies	Independent organisation to assist implementation of strategies Not likely	Independent organisation to assist implementation of strategies Somewhat likely	Independent organisation to assist implementation of strategies Very likely
Requests from constituents	Requests from constituents Not likely	Requests from constituents Somewhat likely	Requests from constituents Very likely
Government grants or funding	Government grants or funding Not likely	Government grants or funding Somewhat likely	Government grants or funding Very likely
Astro/night tourism opportunities and training	Astro/night tourism opportunities and training Not likely	Astro/night tourism opportunities and training Somewhat likely	Astro/night tourism opportunities and training Very likely
Access to cheap, good quality night sky sensitive lighting	Access to cheap, good quality night sky sensitive lighting Not likely	Access to cheap, good quality night sky sensitive lighting Somewhat likely	Access to cheap, good quality night sky sensitive lighting Very likely
Professional Development (for council staff, lighting industry, electricians)	Professional Development (for council staff, lighting industry, electricians) Not likely	Professional Development (for council staff, lighting industry, electricians) Somewhat likely	Professional Development (for council staff, lighting industry, electricians) Very likely

Other (please specify)

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* 8. To what extent do the following hinder you from introducing light pollution mitigation strategies?

	Hardly	Somewhat	Greatly
No tools available to raise public interest	No tools available to raise public interest Hardly	No tools available to raise public interest Somewhat	No tools available to raise public interest Greatly
More pressing conservation issues	More pressing conservation issues Hardly	More pressing conservation issues Somewhat	More pressing conservation issues Greatly
Energy suppliers controlling the market	Energy suppliers controlling the market Hardly	Energy suppliers controlling the market Somewhat	Energy suppliers controlling the market Greatly
Cost - good quality lights, submission fees	Cost - good quality lights, submission fees Hardly	Cost - good quality lights, submission fees Somewhat	Cost - good quality lights, submission fees Greatly
Time	Time Hardly	Time Somewhat	Time Greatly
Access to Standards Australia information	Access to Standards Australia information Hardly	Access to Standards Australia information Somewhat	Access to Standards Australia information Greatly
Safety concerns in creating dark places	Safety concerns in creating dark places Hardly	Safety concerns in creating dark places Somewhat	Safety concerns in creating dark places Greatly
Lack of network or support frameworks to assist actions	Lack of network or support frameworks to assist actions Hardly	Lack of network or support frameworks to assist actions Somewhat	Lack of network or support frameworks to assist actions Greatly
Complexity of submitting a dark sky designation application	Complexity of submitting a dark sky designation application Hardly	Complexity of submitting a dark sky designation application Somewhat	Complexity of submitting a dark sky designation application Greatly
Other conservation groups offering better support or funding	Other conservation groups offering better support or funding Hardly	Other conservation groups offering better support or funding Somewhat	Other conservation groups offering better support or funding Greatly
Lack of regulatory support or awareness of policies	Lack of regulatory support or awareness of policies Hardly	Lack of regulatory support or awareness of policies Somewhat	Lack of regulatory support or awareness of policies Greatly
Lack of awareness of the issue and impacts	Lack of awareness of the issue and impacts Hardly	Lack of awareness of the issue and impacts Somewhat	Lack of awareness of the issue and impacts Greatly
No knowledge of light pollution strategies	No knowledge of light pollution strategies Hardly	No knowledge of light pollution strategies Somewhat	No knowledge of light pollution strategies Greatly

Other (please specify)

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* 9. Would you be interested in collaborating with a National Dark Sky Network, developing people and places to achieve dark sky conservation goals?

Yes but only if it is free

Yes and would volunteer time to support it

Yes and would pay a participation fee - please advise how much your council would be willing to pay per annum

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* 10. Which organisations, groups or stakeholders in your area would you recommend be involved in a dark sky network? (Landcare, Parks, Local Residents groups)

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* 11. Can we keep you informed of the outcomes of this research and dark sky network activities? (Please enter your email address)

YES - Please provide your email address