Mentone is a middle ring suburb, away from inner Melbourne. It and surrounding suburbs should not have illuminated electronic promotional signs or neon signs in the built environment. A large one was erected at the corner of Centre Dandenong Road and Nepean Hwy and does not fit in with the area. These should be kept out of non inner suburbs. They are better off in inner suburbs, if anywhere.
We are progressively losing our "night sky" to excessive artificial light (sky glow), particularly in urban areas. Artificial light negatively impacts native mammals, birds, frogs and reptiles. Excessive lighting worldwide is an officially recognised environmental issue of great importance as it affects:
- wildlife navigation. For example, migration of Bogong Moths to alpine areas which are a food source for Mountain Pygmy -possums is affected by increasing light pollution.
- nocturnal wildlife such as possums and birds require darkness as part of their natural environment.
Dark sky is essential for wildlife navigation, astronomers, and sound sleep for humans. Yet, as population and building density increases so does the ambient light levels with reduced visibility of the night sky. We need to reduce artificial lighting wherever possible, not add to it with unnecessary electric and neon signage.
