Australian Technology Park light pollution irritates locals

It’s a huge win for the NSW Government, which is anxious to sell the site on a 99-year lease and raise a significant amount of revenue from the sale.

However Alexandria residents to the south of the park have expressed outrage at the impacts from the Channel Seven building’s 24 hour fluorescent lighting, traffic, loss of street parking and have complained about a lack of notification and consultation.

At a community meeting in December a group of almost 50 residents from streets surrounding the site vented their anger at a panel of representatives from Channel Seven, Global television, the Redfern Waterloo Authority, Sydney Council and ATP Managing director Roy Wakelin-King.

Desley Hass from Alexandria said the 24-hour lighting at the Channel Seven building had been on for almost a year during the construction period and likened the effect at night to living in the Arctic Circle.

“Lights are being left on all night in the building, reflecting into our homes. It’s an incredible waste of energy and money,” she said.

“It’s brighter than daylight at night time in upstairs rooms.”

Residents were told during the meeting that lighting was currently being tested 24-hours but that lights would normally only be on if people were using that area of the building, with lights turned off at other times.

Residents wanted the lights turned off between 6pm and dawn.

Mr Wakelin-King said residents would receive a response on the matter.

At ATP there are currently 1600 parking spaces for 1800 people. This will increase to 3000 once Global and Seven are installed from this week on.

Residents said they had received inquiries from Channel Seven staff about renting off-street parking and were dubious about claims by Channel Seven and Mr Wakelin-King that most employees would commute to work.

Source: http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/news/story/redferntechnology-park-light-pollution-irritates-locals/