I'm not sure if folks caught the laser show on Mt Roland last week. Here's a link to an article about the laser show:
http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/348 ... the-night/
I really like the part where the festival organizer brags that the laser they use can "burn a hole through a door" from a kilometre away.
I've done some calculations on the laser they are using, which is the most powerful laser you can buy. Using the wattage of the projector and American standards on laser use (The Australian standards are impossible to find freely on the net), this is the potential impact of the laser used. Bear in mind, this is only for a quick pass of the beam, not sustained use, and the restrictions relate to impact on human eyes, not on those of nocturnal animals.
Eye Hazard Distance 385m
Flashblind Hazard 1.8km
FAA Critical Flight Zone Exposure Distance <8km
FAA Laser Free Flight Zone Exposure Distance 81.9km
Skin Burn hazard 25m
Fire Hazard 17m
The laser was well inside of the first two distances when used on Mt Roland.
Kentish Council and National Parks are currently considering whether to allow further use of Mt Roland in this manner. A local high school student, who is also a wildlife carer, has started a petition opposing this, on the grounds that they laser they are using is hazardous to wildlife, and an admitted fire hazard. Here's a link to the petition:
https://www.change.org/p/kentish-counci ... unt-roland
I felt that as bushwalkers who value the natural values of undisturbed land, you'd like to lend a hand.
Cheers!