Jeremy Taylor
jeremy@tasmanskies.nz
2021-10-05
The Manager
Whakatū/Nelson Visitor Centre
Department of Conservation
Re: Open Letter Regarding Light Pollution at DOC’s Momorangi Bay Camp Ground
Tēnā koutou!
I recently had the opportunity to stay at the DOC-run Momorangi Bay camping ground.
Thank you for providing a pleasant, well-cared for camping experience. The facilities were well-maintained and clean.
Sadly, I do have a complaint. The night-time environment is ruined by an intensely bright unshielded light at the shore end of the jetty at the eastern end of the bay.
I do know that the Department of Conservation is aware of the problem of light pollution, how it deleteriously effects our environment, harming wildlife and humans alike and steals from us the natural taonga that is our night sky.
I was a delegate at the 2019 Starlight Conference in Takapō where DOC Eastern South Island Manager Andy Roberts spoke about the efforts being made within the Department of Conservation to protect the night and preserve our conservation estate from light pollution. He was later interviewed by a Stuff reporter, and in an article dated Oct 25, 2019 [ https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/116766923/new-zealand-needs-to-use-all-the-tools-in-its-toolbox-to-become-a-dark-sky-nation ] is reported as commenting on the growing recognition of the problems of light pollution and its negative impact on human health and wildlife, with these words:
Department of Conservation (DOC) Eastern South Island manager Andy Roberts agreed “if we are going to get the attention of government to build on what appears to be a growing groundswell, we need to connect in with the thinking of government”.
“There are issues of wellbeing, there are issues of health, there are issues a spiritual and cultural connection to what we see and experience and a biodiversity value. There’s also a really big sustainability drive to this.”
DOC has been involved in the recognition of the International Dark Sky Association’s recognition of the Aoraki/Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, the Rakiura/Stewart Island Dark Sky Sanctuary and the Aotea/Great Barrier Dark Sky Sanctuary, assisting to protect these areas of significant natural value.
DOC has also recognised the importance of regulating artificial light at night, with a recent report in September 2021 dealing with seabirds colliding with fishing vessels because of their lights [ https://www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/conservation-services-programme/csp-reports/202021/lighting-adjustments-to-mitigate-against-fishing-vessel-deck-strikes-vessel-impacts/ ] and in 2019 it was reported [ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/department-of-conservation-and-new-zealand-cruise-ship-association-work-to-prevent-birds-being-blinded-by-ship-light/ZQBBQO4HM5LSFVQ6TYYWFOS2PA/ ] that DOC’s principle science adviser Graeme Taylor commented on bright cruise ship lights affecting seabirds:
“They can be momentarily blinded, causing them to fly into a cruise ship and end up lying stunned on the deck.”
“Bright lights on cruise ships is an issue in the Hauraki Gulf because we have a high number of seabird species that fly at night,” Taylor said.
In advice to ships, DoC urges those on ships to close blinds, curtains on cabin windows, reduce unnecessary exterior lighting and try to shield essential external deck lights so they are directed downwards and reduce light wattage where practical.
DOC Fiordland posted the following on Facebook in July of this year: [ https://www.facebook.com/DOCFiordland/posts/1974063649410535 ]
What is the value of dark skies and what threatens them? It’s a timely thing to consider as we celebrate Matariki across Aotearoa. If we can’t see the stars in the sky due to light pollution we can’t read their story that has been integral to human life across generations.
Do you see a glow blocking the stars when you look up? Light pollution causes this glow and is created by misplaced artificial light. It is a growing problem that threatens wildlife, humans, natural habitats, our energy use and the heritage of appreciation for our night sky. Leaving lights on in vacant buildings, outdoor lights pointing up to the sky and unshielded outdoor lights all contribute to light pollution or sky glow.
There are four different components of light pollution:
➡ Urban sky glow: artificial lights that are pointed upwards or misplaced cause the sky to unnaturally “glow” blocking the view of stars.
➡ Light trespass: light that lands in areas where it is not wanted or needed. Example: light from a neighbour’s house is also lighting up your back yard.
➡ Glare: the bright uncomfortable light that comes off poorly built lamps. This causes a decrease in visibility.
➡ Clutter: a grouping of bright light (Example: New York City) contributing to sky glow, trespass, and glare.
“When we add light to the environment, that has the potential to disrupt habitat, just like running a bulldozer over the landscape can.” — Chad Moore, formerly of the National Park Service, USA.
So, what can we do about it? A lot! Being dark sky friendly doesn’t mean having no light but rather using the light you need for a particular task in the most efficient manner. Check out the many practical tips found here: https://www.darksky.org/our-work/lighting/.
The light at the shore end of the jetty has significant flaws that make it responsible for severe light pollution in Momorangi Bay. Its unshielded design with an illumination diffuser at the sides of the luminaire cause it to radiate light not just down where light may be needed but also laterally outwards and even upwards. This lateral and upwards glow is wasteful and creates the sky glow mentioned in the Facebook post above, and it causes significant light trespass beyond the immediate jetty area. You can see in the accompanying pictures that it illuminates boats moored across the bay. The luminaire is also visible from the entire bay area, where it creates unavoidable glare for anyone looking into the bay at night.
I would challenge any suggestion that there is any need for the jetty to be lit. There is no nocturnal ferry traffic that might mean passengers need light for safe egress. People engaged in recreation in the area, such as fishing from the jetty, are well aware they are in a dark outdoor environment and will equip themselves with their own personal lights. The jetty is at the end of an access lane for camp sites that is not part of a thoroughfare so is only accessed by campers, and even at night the end of the lane is clearly identifiable by vehicle headlights. A lamp does not serve to mark the end of the access lane well, indeed it might suggest to some that the jetty could be driven onto. A safer option than the light for vehicle safety would be to remove the lamp and replace it with a small reflective multiple-chevron ‘end of road’ indicator.
The first principle of light pollution reduction as advocated by the darksky.org site linked to by DOC above, is: Light only what you need. This light does not need to exist, because its light is unnecessary.
The second principle is: Use a light only as bright as needed. This light is unnecessarily bright and illuminates the whole bay. The third principle is: Shield lights and direct them down. This light has a cap on top, but it is not a ‘cutoff’ design because it has diffuser glass at the sides, so light radiates laterally and up. This puts it in the “bad” category in this diagram:
The fourth principle is: Only use light when you need it. This light does not use a PIR/movement sensor, so the light disrupts the environs for the whole night.
The fifth principle is: Choose warm light. While I was unable to measure the colour temperature of this light, it has the appearance of a light with a significant blue component, which is especially problematic. In a sensitive natural environment, any responsible luminaire should be using something like a PC Amber light source.
The responsible course of action to address this source of light pollution is to have the lamp at the shore end of the Momorangi Bay jetty removed, please.
Nāku noa,
nā Jeremy Taylor
CC: Posted to Twitter from @TasmanSkies, tagging @docgovtnz, Penny Nelson, Lou Sanson, @takapodigs, @CaptainKettles, @naturevision
Attached: reference images
