Since early 2016, Naseby Vision as a community development organisation, has followed a goal for Naseby to protect the night sky from light pollution in the future, and to grow the appreciation by residents and visitors, of its pristine night skies and achieve International Dark Sky Accreditation as a Community
Since commencing this project, the staff at the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) based in Tucson Arizona USA http://www.darksky.org/ have worked with Naseby Vision to compile the application for global recognition of IDA “Community” accreditation, the first in the Southern Hemisphere.
Naseby hopes to join the other areas of New Zealand which already have IDA accreditation Aoraki/Mackenzie (Reserve Area accredited); Aotea/Great Barrier Island (Sanctuary accredited) and Rakiura/Stewart Island (as the second Sanctuary accredited).
The Naseby Vision goals to achieve and maintain an IDA accredited town would be:
- To grow a culture of “awe” of the Naseby and Maniototo pristine night sky creating active stewardship by residents to reduce night light pollution.
- To ensure outdoor lighting product advice is available and that downward light shaded angles are accepted descriptors for new builds and changes to established buildings via local government building approvals.
- That residents are clear that all residential current outdoor lighting is the accepted benchmark and no changes would be required.
- To create opportunities for children, families, residents and visitors, global astronomers to view and learn about the night sky objects at 588m above sea level.
- To develop a strong and ongoing science curricula relationship with the Maniototo Area School with events, scholarships, travelling astronomers to grow the students’ identification with the nightsky of their Maniototo living environment.
- To encourage new small businesses and services to underpin Naseby’s potential astronomical tourism.
- To audit the lumination within the boundary of Naseby township.
At present, the Naseby Vision Committee is completing the community consultation phase and council agreement in preparation for the final step, with the hope of getting 100% support from the community for this important night sky protection initiative.
A draft of the formal Private Plan Change Request (PPCR) to Central Otago District Council has been completed. Despite the submissions length it just reflects the compilation of all the work and feedback to date. There is nothing new that hasn’t already been publicly discussed (ie existing lighting arrangements are unaffected but new light installs require shields).
Watch this space for more information ….