NSW Marine Parks merely ban recreational and commercial fishing, they have NO effect on the REAL causes of damage to the Marine environment and biodiversity, such as pollution, both chemical and sediment and agricultural run-off.

Dr Philip Creagh

Narooma Port Committee

Joyous tidings!

WHAT joy! Now that I know that "the fishing's never been better" according to the Marine Parks Authority and Eurobodalla Shire's Tourism Manager (NN February 17) I can't wait to grab a rod and tell Ma to put the frypan on. It is indeed a wondrous fishy time we live in, particularly for those casting public relations propaganda upon the waters. Damn it, I've risen to the bait again!

Richard Tilzey

Central Tilba

Fisheries should control fish

THIS week's spin by Tim Shepherd (NN Feb 17th)should be the reason this man stands down or should be sacked as director of the NPWS by the State Government The question is to you Tim, What have the Marine Park got to do with fish stocks?

The last I looked NSW Fisheries were still in charge of fish stocks and we all hope that's the way it will stay

The only thing that has happened with the Batemans Marine Park Authority in charge of the Eurobdalla shire in the past three years is that thousands of fish have been killed at Kianga Lake, thousands of fish killed at Nangudga Lake, people have had their houses flooded in Dalmeny, and a dead dolphin in Tuross.

Everybody that's doing their own thing now have to have a permit to do it and in the next few weeks, hundreds of tonnes of mullet and salmon will be raped by so called pro fisherman in the Batemans Marine Park.

So I and many others call this a failure.

The good season that the tourist enjoyed with the kingfish has nothing to do with the Marine Park, as mother nature is the one who has the final say as to where the currents run. So you can only hope that the inquiry being held by the NSW State Government. Legislative Council about Marine Parks don't get a copy of your letter mate and the sooner the Marine Parks is taken over by NSW Fisheries the better it will be for all of the people of the Eurobodalla Shire.

Dave Clark

Narooma

Dalmeny flooding caused by Mummuga closure

National Parks & Wild life service have some questions to answer regarding the grief, worry and flood damage to private residents and the fire brigade & tennis club, in Mort Avenue, Dalmeny.

Because the N.P.W.S. did not want to open the Mummuga Lake months ago, low levels of water, caused pollution of some areas of the lake.

Eurobodalla Shire erected notices that said so, yet still the lake wasn't opened.

In the past couple of weeks, we have recorded well over 200mm of rainfall, not including the past couple of days.

The past weeks have seen the lake levels rise quite significantly and still they wont open the lake, (NN Feb 10.)

When NPWS spokesman Stuart Cohen stated the opening of Mummuga would only be with "imminent threat to houses", my wife and I looked at the lakes entrance every day and the threat had been there for at least a week.

At least the E.S.C. had the brains and concern, to open Tuross Lake, but not the N.P.W.S.

When we woke up on Monday morning, we found our yard and others adjacent to us were all flooded!

After rescuing half drowned aviary birds, I attempted to ring N.P.W.S. and could not be connected, so I called Narooma Police to get something done by the N.P.W.S.(open the lake)

I emailed our local member, Mr Andrew Constance about the situation, at Dalmeny. I received an email from Andrew stating that he had spoken to the General Manager of E.S.C. Mr Paul Anderson, who advised that the lake had been opened that morning, by the N.P.W.S.

I know that Andrew and Paul have to rely on what they are told, BUT I have it on good authority by someone who saw what was happening at 7.30 am, at the lake entrance, that two men with a truck were using hand tools to open the lake!

By no stretch of the imagination, could two men do any good, with out mechanical help!!

So much for opening the lake! If the lake was opened properly, then why was the back yard water level still rising up until late afternoon?

We have been lucky, as we have only lost two lawn mowers, and probably a lot of plants.

Our neighbours were not so lucky .On one side, it looks like they have lost part of their air-con, while on the other side, they have lost their fridge, freezer and the food in them, a computer, sewing machine & other things like photos etc. Their son has water damage to his vehicle, as well as trade tools (all adding up to$30,000 +)

Why should we have to pay any insurance excess, or anything at all for that matter, when N.P.W.S. directly caused this problem, by not doing anything!

My son rang NPWS at Narooma, from Sydney to enquire about the current flooding, and was told that the flooding was caused by "high seas & heavy rain."

What a load of CRAP!! Yes we had rough seas and big swells, but if we had high seas, we may well have had the lake open on its own over a week ago!

Will the NPWS compensate us for all the damage that they have caused, by inaction on their part, or would we have to take part in a class action, as this is not the first time that they have caused local flooding?

Alan Tilly

Mort Ave

Dalmeny 2546

Koalas or forestry?

WHY IS Forest NSW determined to log koala habitat at Mumbulla?

Who has been stopping the release of DECC's koala survey? Surely the people of Bega Valley have the right to be informed when forests from Bermagui to Tathra are due to be logged FROM MARCH 2010, despite insufficient surveys for wildlife or effect on downstream industries

Less than 3 years of saw logs are available, the native forest woodchip market is well down with no recovery in sight

FNSW is losing money from this public, i.e., "free" resource, $14.4ml last financial year

NSW Government can declared force majeur on contracts with loggers

It is not just koalas that are endangered or threatened in south east forests, south eastern forests are in trouble, losing the vital diversity of species necessary for their ability to adapt to changing climatic conditions

Science clearly tells us that logging forests make them more fire prone, changing from wet to dry sclerophyll.

Tourism is growing despite the GFC and koalas are the iconic Aussie image polls show 77 per cent of respondents do not want native forest logging

Surely this is the perfect time for NSW to get out of virtually all native forest logging with benefits to: climate, water and wildlife and our children's future.

Prue Acton

Wallagoot

Affordable rental Housing in Narooma

LET ME begin by applauding the Government for recognising Narooma for development and acknowledging its potential to increased employment to our area in these tough times.

I would also like to congratulate the Government on identifying the need for affordable housing.

However I like to take this opportunity to raise some concerns that I have with the proposed development site at 192 Princes Highway, which was purchased in November 2009 by the Housing NSW.

This site has on average slopes of 20 degrees, max of 25 degrees, which is extremely steep land for any development; giving rise to several issues. Firstly, the demographics of people requiring affordable housing in Narooma are predominately the elderly.

The proposed site will not provide suitable accommodation for these people in that there will be no level areas for the tenants to use, access to the dwellings will be difficult both onto the site and within the site and access to shops and other facilities will be via the very steep road, Davison Street, and across the increasingly busy Princes Highway.

Secondly, the aspect and slope of the site requires significant engineering and earthworks to establish both dwellings and roading, thus exponentially increasing the cost of developing this site.

The tax payers dollar would be far better utilised developing a more gentle sloping site with the additional money saved used on maintaining and upgrading some of the 40 existing Housing NSW properties within Narooma.

Both the minister for Housing and Premier Keneally have stated and documented that none of the stimulus housing projects will be built in clusters, all designed to blend in with local communities and social housing to be dispersed across communities, and furthermore that development will be conducted with the consultation of councils and communities.

None of which have happened in this particular situation. I feel that the State Government needs to explore other sites or options for this type of development in consultation with the community.

The proposed development is open for comment until March 1. If you have any comments to be made about this proposed development write to

David Fingland KMH Environmental

PO BOX 5487

West Chatswood NSW 1515.

Further information is available from Housing NSW on (02) 6229-7652

Jean Blessington

Narooma

Stairs to nowhere

Re your article by Stan Gorton.

I NOTICE in this article it states that the Blue Pool is a famous and Wonderful asset to the Town.

Which is true, but the access is a problem!

As I was at the first meeting and swim there regularly, the access doesn't seem to be an issue to the people who were at the meeting.

The people who regularly use the Blue Pool range from 5 to 85 and the steps don't seem to be an issue to them.

These steps have been in use for 72 years and to my knowledge have never been a problem and need very little maintenance and repair.

The main problem at the Blue Pool is some structural damage on the sea wall that was pointed out to Council at the first meeting .That should be addressed before any access issues are discussed.

The stairs seem to be the sole focus of the council.

If the council don't address the Blue Pool structural problems the council will have the best set of steps to no where

Wayne Burke

Bermagui

Deluge, Death and the Dolphin

RECENT flooding and damage in many parts of the Shire should activate the Eurobodalla Council and other statutory bodies, especially the NPWS.

Alan Tilley's letter to the Narooma News "Open the Lake Sooner " may open up questions of legal liability, in particular against the NPWS

Their inaction of allowing the sand berm to build up to many feet above an acceptable trigger level in Mummuga is inexcusable

As the main authority for opening this lake they should have acted earlier. Residents in Binalong St, Noble Parade, Tatiara St, Myuna Crescent and Thompson Parade, to mention a few were left battling to save possessions and property from a deluge of raging, swirling waters from swollen, polluted and closed Mummuga Lake

One would have thought the priority and efforts of the NPWS would have been for those residents under flood.

They were disappointed to hear news of the day from "Tims" NPWS on talk back radio was detailed speculation as to cause of death of "Danny or Daniel " the Dolphin

The Eurobodalla Council is not off the hook!.

They have a civic responsibility and duty of care to act on behalf of residents bordering all coastal lakes.

Outdated infrastructure, poor engineering design, low capacity storm water culverts and pipes leading directing into enclosed systems and the unnecessary removal of many stabilising trees was clearly evident

All these factors exacerbated the problems such as the "duck Pond " at Dalmeny

The council's consultants report on coastal lakes reveals a serious anomaly of duty of care by excluding Mummuga Lake

Like Kianga Lake, it is vulnerable to anticipated and disputable sea level rises.

The consultants report recommends progressive removal of assets and in some case a permanent retreat from some properties on the northern side of Lakeside Drive at Kianga.

The same may apply to many residences around the surrounds of Mummuga lake and particularly so if trigger levels are raised as a result of the consultants report.

The policies of the Council, the NPWS and Flat earth Society that view the opening and closing of tidal lakes and estuaries to be part of a natural cycle and should operate unhindered, needs to be reviewed for each individual case .

In the case of Mummuga Lake, it is believed that it should operate as frequently as possible in a tidal condition.

Peter Bernard

Dalmeny

Bless the Narooma people

RAIN, Rain, what a glorious sight for all of us. It didn't phase me once, even though we had a wedding and a birthday on Valentine's Day at Taylor's on the deck.

Thank you Sandy and Bart for organizing the Fishing Club next door and dear Robbo for opening up the venue of the Fishing Club.

What beautiful people, as I had no "Plan B" organized for the rain.

Where would we be without you and the food you walked over to the club was fantastic and abundant.

Lee Forde Johnston

Narooma

Dalmeny's Climate Change

By John Petherbridge

OLD-TIMERS had never seen the lake so low

Its banks exposing dried out wastes,

Reeds that stank and mounds of wind-swept snow.

The outlet where lake met sea blocked by sand

Pools of putrid water beneath a wooden bridge.

Climate change, they said, sure evidence

For those who would predict a drying, dying fate.

But then, as in response, grey clouds appeared.

A little thunder, rumbled a warning,

And then the deluge came. Showers,rain,

No pause,no hesitation, drenching all.

The lake filled to capacity, then broke

Its outlet to the sea, swept out mounds

Of sand and waste to be met by resentful waves.

But nothing could resist its force. Floodwater

Over Tennis courts, then across the road

Creating hazards for people caught in cars,

Mounting kerbs and invading nearby houses.

From my window I watched a metamorphosis,

A dramatic weather change to confuse the pessimists.

Who are we to question the mysteries of nature?

Now the dams are full, rivers flowing, grass greening

For once the advocates of climate change are thwarted

Though time may still be leaning on their side....

Unfair levy

I HAVE just heard on WIN News that the Government has announced a $30 per annum increase in registration fees to supplement public transport costs.

You will be well aware that no taxpayer/vehicle owner living South of Nowra has ANY access to public transport, and we should not have this increase imposed on us.

I am sure that there are other country electorates in the same situation, and I have recently written to Member for Bega, Andrew Constance asking that, after discussing this matter with other country MP's, he raise this matter in Parliament on our behalf.

Ian Scott,

Bodalla.