The Sunshine Coast Council is considering the creation of a Dark Sky Reserve in the Mary River Catchment area, covering almost 900 square kilometres. The Buffer/Periphery area surrounds Kirbys Road Environment Reserve. The area follows the Mary River Catchment Boundary within the western portion of the local government area with the addition of Mapleton National Park and Mapleton Forest Reserves in their entirety. The area comprises the hinterland townships of Maleny, Mapleton, Montville, Conondale and Kenilworth.
A Dark Sky Reserve is one of the five designation types offered under the International Dark Sky Places Program which seeks to preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting polices and public education.
This initiative is part of the global dark sky movement aimed at reducing light pollution to increase the visibility of stars at night. The proposed reserve would contribute to increased visibility of stars at night, improve wellbeing, health, and safety for people and wildlife, and position the region as an astro-tourism destination. The project is planned to be implemented following preliminary investigations, with the Sunshine Coast Council unveiling a proposal to establish the Dark Sky Reserve in November 2023. The establishment of a Dark Sky Reserve in the Sunshine Coast could bring thriving tourism business to the hinterland areas and support the region's communities while reducing emissions from excess lighting.
The potential economic benefits of a Dark Sky Reserve are significant. Gaining dark sky status can attract more visitors, leading to increased tourism and economic benefits for surrounding communities. Additionally, protecting night skies offers an economic advantage through the reduction in light pollution, making outdoor lighting more energy-efficient and potentially saving billions of dollars annually.
The Dark Sky Reserve ties in with development planned for the Mary River by seeking to support and protect the landscape and character of the neighbourhoods, including the unique night-sky values, while continuing to live, work, and play in the area. The proposed designation seeks to improve community wellbeing and is important to native wildlife that rely on dark night skies to move, feed, or reproduce safely. Therefore, the plan is not in conflict with the SCRC development plan but rather aims to enhance the region's appeal and sustainability while preserving its natural beauty and unique night-sky values.
The proposed Dark Sky Reserve would cover 38% of the region, bringing a variety of benefits for both people and nature in the Sunshine Coast Biosphere. The area would be monitored to ensure dark sky quality is protected into the future. If successfully designated, this Dark Sky Reserve would be one of only two of its kind in Australia.
The requirements for an area to be designated as a Dark Sky Reserve include specific criteria related to light pollution and public or private land. An International Dark Sky Reserve must experience brightness of no more than 20 magnitudes per square arcsecond and must be public or private land of at least 700km². Additionally, the area should have an outstanding dark sky resource relative to the population it serves and have locally, regionally, or nationally significant dark sky resources. The land may be public or private, but there must be public access to the relevant areas.
