Freo floodlight raises CASA eyebrows

by Lisa Morrison

May 2, 2008

THE Civil Aviation Safety Authority is now investigating a mysterious flood light that had pervaded Fremantle’s night sky for the past month, until last week.

Visible from Claremont in the north to Coogee in the south, and Murdoch in the east, the floodlight had people guessing at its location and purpose.

eMU News asked CASA and the Fremantle Port Authority if such a powerful, highly visible, light could be a hazard to passing planes and boats. Both organisations were unaware of any complaints regarding the floodlight.

Although the port authority did not get back to us, CASA said it was investigating the matter.

“Such a light may require CASA approval and we are currently looking into the issue to ensure it has met all the safety requirements,” CASA media manager Michelle Harris said from her Canberra office.

Acting on an anonymous tip that the light was being emitted from a new restaurant, eMU News headed to Bathers Beach to investigate. There, we spotted a large, cylindrical spotlight-like structure atop of recently opened restaurant, Lyrebird, situated above Maccas on Mews Road.

Lyrebird manager Glen Daniels was able to shed some light on the matter.

“The light was used as a promotional device to get people interested in the restaurant”, he said. “We used it for the last month or so to attract business but have now stopped using it.”

When eMU news told Mr Daniels CASA was likely to require a permit for the light, he said his restaurant had gone through the right channels. However, he refused to elaborate precisely what channels those were.