The Dark Sky Planning Guideline and associated planning controls have been updated. These changes will guide planning and decision-making to protect the night sky surrounding Siding Springs Observatory.
The updates follow a review of the guideline and planning controls by the department, with expert advice provided by observatory staff. The department consulted councils, agencies and the community on the changes through the exhibition of an Explanation of Intended Effect from 26 September to 24 October 2022.
The changes ensure the guideline remains fit for purpose and continues to provide best practice guidance on how to minimise light pollution.
Changes to the guideline include:
- more comprehensive guidance on skylights and illuminated signs
- an updated Dark Sky Region map to account for changed council boundaries since the previous version of the guideline was released in 2016
- example conditions of consent for lit development for local councils surrounding the observatory
- improved usability and readability.
Changes to the planning controls include:
- removing existing restrictions in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (Codes SEPP) for certain types of developments on land within 18km of the observatory, provided they do not require any form of lighting
- introducing new outdoor lighting complying development standards for housing alterations in the local government areas of Coonamble, Gilgandra, Warrumbungle Shire and Dubbo Regional
- updating references to Dubbo Regional Council within the Codes SEPP, the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 to ensure that development controls relating to the observatory apply to land regulated by the Dubbo Regional Local Environmental Plan 2022.