BAS Observer July 2017

JULY 2017 5 General Meetings ( Newmarket Bowls Club, 212 Ashgrove Avenue, Ashgrove ) • Friday, 7th July • Friday, 4th August Mt Coot-tha public Moon and planets viewing nights ( Mt Coot-tha Lookout ) • Saturday, 2 9th July, 5.30 p.m.– 9 .00 p.m. • Saturday, 2 6th August, 5.30 p.m.– 9 .00 p.m. Scenic Rim Astronomy Association Star Party ( Laravale State Primary School ) • Saturday, 2 2nd July, from 3.00 p.m. BAS members are encouraged to attend the Scenic Rim Astronomy Association’s Star Party at Laravale, south of Beaudesert (see https://www.sraa.org.au/ for further details). Please note that the two Star-BQs previously scheduled for 22nd July have been cancelled to allow members to attend this event; however, if Laravale is too far for you to travel, please email president@bas.asn.au ASAP to check whether keys can be made available to access the usual Star-BQ venues. Brisbane North Star-BQ ( Forgan Park, Forgan Road, Lake Samsonvale, Joyner ) • Saturday, 1 9 th August, 5.00 p.m.–12.00 midnight ( for BAS members and their guests only ) Brisbane South Star-BQ ( Harding’s Paddock, Carmichaels Road, Goolman, 15 minutes south of Ipswich ) • Saturday, 1 9 th August, 5.00 p.m.–12.00 midnight ( for BAS members and their guests only ) School nights (6.00 p.m.–8.30 p.m. unless otherwise noted) Volunteers are always needed to assist on school nights, but please note that you must possess a blue card . Email education@bas.asn.au for further information. • Tuesday, 11th July ( Glass House Mountains State School, 58 Coonowrin Road, Glass House Mountains ) • Wednesday, 12th July ( Mitchelton State Primary School, 47 Glen Retreat Road, Mitchelton ) • Wednesday, 1 9 th July ( Holy Spirit School, 102 Sparkes Road, Bray Park ) • Wednesday, 26th July, 6.00 p.m.–9.00 p.m. ( McDowall State School, 1018 Rode Road, McDowall ) • Thursday, 27th July ( Aratula State School, 41 Elizabeth Street, Aratula ) • Tuesday, 1st August, 5.30 pm.–6.30 p.m. ( St Michael's College, 1-63 The Abbey Place, Cabooltur e ) • Tuesday, 1st August, 6.00 p.m.–8.00 p.m. ( Lowood State School, Peace Street, Lowood ) • Wednesday, 9 th August ( Grace Lutheran Primary School, 38 Maine Road, Clontarf ) • Tuesday, 15th August ( Deception Bay State High School, Phillip Parade, Deception Bay ) July–August Events It also appears to have been already decided that adaptive control of LED light networks will not be implemented by BCC/Energex. This could have been a major step forward in greatly reducing needless greenhouse gas emissions and wasted ratepayer money. But no . . . simple motion-sensor or timer controls to dim LED street lights when full illumination is really not needed will not be part of Brisbane’s LED street lighting future. It also became very clear to the audience that if, as a result of this trial, residents are badly impacted by light trespass and glare onto their properties and into their homes, they will have little recourse to correct the intrusion. Unlucky residents may well be stuck with bad street lights for decades to come. There is already abundant evidence of this problem across Brisbane, so why should we expect a change of attitude and response by BCC/Energex under an LED street-light rollout? Indeed, if you read the BCC website page advising residents about how to lodge a complaint about nuisance or glary lights ( https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/laws-permits/complaints-fines/noise- air-light-water-complaints/light-glare ) , you will see that street lights are not listed as one of the light sources BCC will investigate. Is this just a typo or is it actually telling? This all seems to be boiling down to engineers essentially trying to second-guess what some lawyer may claim and hide behind outdated and inflexible Australian Standards for road lighting. Engineers are very clever people. As amateur astronomers with an interest in space and new technology we know how clever engineers can be; however, we seem to be being smothered by a quest for compliance rather than a drive for innovation for a better city and a better world. And so BAS is building its campaign on the issue of poorly designed and ill-considered street lighting. We welcome the move to more-efficient, well-designed and cleverly controlled LED street lighting across Brisbane. But we expect BCC/Energex to be more than just compliance seekers.  ■