Experts highlight benefits of Dark Sky accreditation

L-R: Headlining the Aireys Inlet Dark Sky Event were GORCAPA's Peter Crowcroft, AIDA president Charlotte Allen, Astronomical society of Geelong's Keith McGrath, organiser Frieda Wachsmann, and Carrickalinga Environment Group chair Sheryn Pitman. Photos: SUPPLIED

AIREYS Inlet’s local district association has informed the community of the detriments of light pollution and the benefits of Dark Sky accreditation on the weekend.

The Aireys Inlet & District Association (AIDA) successfully held its second Dark Sky Event on Saturday night with attendees hearing from a range of environmental experts.

AIDA member and driver for Aireys Inlet’s push to attain Dark Sky accreditation

Frieda Wachsmann said the event, which begun at Aireys Inlet Community Hall, went extremely well.

“The highlight of the night was definitely the speakers, they were terrific, they put a lot of efforts into the presentations to be as informative as possible,” Ms Wachsmann said.

“Each had a different angle on the benefits of Dark Sky, and it really set the tone before guests got on shuttle buses to Painkalac Valley to look at the stars.”

The Golden Leaf Moth was one of several moths that visited the net set up at AIDA’s Dark Sky event.

Guests heard from chair of the Carrickalinga Environment Group Dr Sheryn Pitman, vice-president of the Astronomical Society of Geelong, Dr Keith McGrath, and Peter Crowcroft, an environmental educator representing the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority.

After the informational portion of the event, guests then took shuttle buses to Painkalac Valley where they gazed at the clear skies above Aireys Inlet through telescopes.

Guests also saw several species of moths that were caught by nature experts.

Ms Wachsmann said the next step for AIDA in gaining Dark Sky accreditation for Aireys Inlet is to meet with the Surf Coast Shire Council.

“We’ll meet with Council to devise a policy, which the Dark Sky accreditation authority gives us five years to enact before Aireys Inlet as the community goes for the accreditation,” Ms Wachsmann said.

“AIDA has a general meeting with Council scheduled for November 15 to talk about a range of topics, so we will meet with engineers to talk strategies before then.”

Surf Coast Shire Anglesea Ward Councillor Libby Stapleton was in attendance at Saturday’s event.

For more information about AIDA and its programs, head to aireys-inlet.org