The River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve, home to about 2,500 residents and a stunning array of stars, is seeing a surge in tourism. This reserve attracts thousands of visitors annually to the tranquil communities of Swan Reach, Sedan, and Walker Flat. In response to the growing interest in "noctourism," the Mid Murray Council, along with local advocates, is proposing the development of a planetarium and observatory within the reserve. While the plans are still in the early stages, initial designs feature an underground facility that integrates seamlessly with the natural landscape, adhering to dark sky regulations. Chris Tugwell, the reserve's founder, expressed optimism about the project, stating it could enhance tourism and create job opportunities in the area. "The weather isn't always reliable. We want people to experience the amazing night sky, especially if they've come a long way from [places like] China or Japan," Tugwell said. "If it's cloudy, we still want to give them that experience, so a planetarium can do that; they can still see an extraordinary site." The River Murray site is one of only seven officially accredited dark sky locations in Australia and the sole dark sky reserve in the country. Covering over 3,200 square kilometers, its core area is centered around Swan Reach Conservation Park, which consistently achieves a Sky Quality Meter (SQM) reading of 21.9. Ratings of 21 or higher are ideal for stargazing, while urban areas often score between 16 and 17 due to light pollution. Tugwell noted that the proposed observatory and planetarium could open new avenues for research and education for universities and space researchers. Modern telescopes can be operated remotely, allowing researchers from around the world to conduct studies. "A telescope here can be operated by somebody in New York or Paris or anywhere, and people can do their own research," he explained. "We want to create a building that's inspiring as well, so people want to come to visit the building as much as they want to see the dark sky." The proposal aligns with a broader astrotourism strategy, according to Gary Mavrinac, the Mid Murray Council's director of development and community services. He indicated that the project would require investment from federal, state, or private sources to move forward. "Part of our strategy is also to hopefully set up an independent board that could potentially become the owner of such a facility," Mavrinac said. He emphasized the need to protect the reserve while ensuring the design is light-friendly and accessible to necessary services and infrastructure. Local tourism operator Kelly Kuhn, who conducts dark sky tours, has guided visitors from 18 different countries. Since the reserve's accreditation in 2019, she has noticed that many tourists stay multiple nights to fully appreciate the night sky. Kuhn believes that a planetarium and observatory would significantly benefit the Mid Murray region and the state, as the reserve is one of the closest dark sky locations to a capital city, just 90 minutes from Adelaide. "A lot of people have never seen stars in their life because of light pollution and one third of the world's population living in cities," Kuhn said. "When we witness this amazement from people and the emotion they experience and the meaningfulness of it, it's so worthy to continue and grow."