Posted by Mike Field on January 31, 2010 at 23:07:14 user mikefield.
In Reply to: Re: GPS make lighthouses redundant posted by John Lambert on January 30, 2010 at 20:23:21:
It's the same here. All Aussie lighthouses have been automated for some years. But all are still operational (and operating,) owned by the Commonwealth Government and administered by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. (In many cases the former keepers' houses have been turned into B&B accommodation, which makes them revenue-earners for the government.)
But as far as I know there have been no discussions about letting the lights fall into disuse because we now have satellite navigation systems. I'd be horrified to think it might happen, for the same reason that I think anyone planning an over-the-horizon sea voyage would be crazy not to have on board (and know how to use) a good old-fashioned sextant. Electronics can fail. What do you rely on for accurate positioning when they have?