Manly Lagoon Park To Be Lit At Night?

Manly Lagoon Park may be lit up all night under a Masterplan currently on display  by Northern Beaches Council.  The plan is intended to address safety issues for cyclists, runners & walkers who use the park after work.  But locals say the proposed   21 6m-high poles, will completely change the parks nature.  The poles, which will be similar to 2/3 size street lights, are planned to  every 20m along the existing foot path/cycle way.

Local residents worry  the bright lighting will encourage late-night drinking parties and scare off native animals. They say that's exactly what happened during the council's lighting trial a few years ago. 

The trial, which focussed mainly on low intensity solar lights, found that the low-key lighting was too dim to meet Australian standards. 

The light pole proposal has been funded to go ahead this financial year. However community concerns may prompt a rethink.  One suggestion is to turn the lights off after 10pm, but that may also fail to meet Australian standards..

More information and your chance to have a say on the Council's website here. 

Queenscliff Lagoon Park. The red line marks the boundary of the area. The purple line is the cycle/foot path.

Light intensity is greatest in the middle of the envelope. The small green circles are the proposed light poles.

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