We are preparing an application to have the Palm Beach Headland area designated as an Urban Night Sky Place by the International Dark Sky Association.

An Urban Night Sky Place (UNSP) is a municipal park, open space, observing site, or other similar property near or surrounded by large urban environs whose planning and design actively promote an authentic night time experience in the midst of significant artificial light.

If the application is successful, this will likely be the first Urban Night Sky Place in Australia. It will help raise awareness of the benefits of good outdoor lighting design while maintaining public safety and protecting the natural night time environment.

As part of this project and to assist us in preparing the application, Council facilitates a UNSP Project Working Group (PWG). Members of the PWG represent the various stakeholders who are interested in or may be impacted by the creation of an Urban Night Sky Place at Palm Beach Headland.

We recently put out an EOI and invited two new members to join the group. Thank you to everyone who expressed interest. The PWG continues to meet quarterly.

For enquiries, please contact the Environment and Climate Change Team on 02 8495 6716 or email kara.taylor@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au.

We sought feedback from the local and broader Northern Beaches community between 6 November 2020 and 6 December 2020 regarding the proposal to apply to have Palm Beach Headland designated as an Urban Night Sky Place. We wanted to gauge community support and understand any questions or concerns before progressing with an application to the International Dark Sky Association.

We also ran an online session on 25 November 2020 to provide you with an opportunity to meet our project team, ask questions and engage in a discussion with other community members.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. We received 370 comments during the consultation period. The majority were supportive of the project. Some of the benefits highlighted by community members included: improved lighting, an alternate activity for families and young people under 18 years old and positive environmental impacts. Concerns raised in other comments related to: impacts on safety of the area, overuse of the area, the lighthouse remaining in operation and/or affecting the designation.

A report was presented at the meeting on 24 August 2021 noting the outcomes of community consultation and seeking Council direction on the project.

Council has resolved to progress the project and submit an application to the International Dark Sky Association for Governor Phillip Park, Palm Beach to be designated as an Urban Night Sky Place (and include Barrenjoey Headland if NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service decides to do so).

View the Council Report (Item 11.1) and the Attachment Booklet (Item 11.1)

View the Council minutes (Item 11.1)