The newly purchased filtration system for the bore water at Tuross supply will service the south of the shire.

Combining this supply, with the north of the shire using water from Moruya River, our water problems should mean a relaxation of the water restrictions and a longer time before their re-introduction.

Indeed, Council announced last week that Water Restrictions have been lifted from Level 3 to Level 2.

The Northern Water Treatment Plant is contracted to be completed by late August and after a short testing period, residents can expect cleaner water with dirty water stains a thing of the past.

Also on February 11, Council Chambers was the venue for 29 cash grants being handed out to fantastic community groups as part of the Eurobodalla Healthy Communities Project. Diverse groups from Scouts to the CWA, Rotary to SCUGS were the beneficiaries of nearly $15,000 dollars to assist the groups to continue to do the wonderful voluntary work that is such an indicative part of the Eurobodalla community.

We in Narooma eagerly watched the Winter Olympic Games and the outstanding performance of Melissa Hoar on TV recently. What an amazing effort in such a dangerous and crazy sport, and to finish one of the best in the world is a just reward for her efforts!

The recent rains bought much-needed relief from the drought as well as some serious damage to infrastructure across the shire.

The dollar value trigger in damage was reached thankfully that allows us to receive state funding to repair the roads, bridges, culverts, etc that have been affected, like for like.

Unfortunately residents will be inconvenienced and are asked to be patient for some time whilst these extensive works are undertaken.

Anyone who wishes to raise an issue that concerns them, please contact me on mobile 0403 441210, email clrlindsaybrown@eurocoast.nsw.gov .au or snail-mail PO Box 255, Narooma, NSW, 2546.

Lindsay Brown

Narooma

The great rates ambush

A PUBLIC forum has been organised by Eurobodalla Shire Council to discuss ways and means of balancing the budget.

Getting the ratepayers to take ownership of any cuts to the services or a special rate variation must be what we call democracy at work!

I cannot remember having been invited to comment on the $100,000 + 4WD vehicle so generously offered to and graciously accepted by the former general manager at ratepayers’ expense.

In fact the matter was first discussed among the councillors... in secret.

No wonder this latest call for community input has been met with a fair amount of cynicism.

I know, I know, on this 2nd anniversary of that 'Special Bonus' some will say we should move on!

The answer is yes; however not before ratepayers receive an unambiguous pledge by our Local Government never to repeat such 'special bonus' extravagance. Besides, would it not be reassuring to believe that the recipient of such largesse will take a long hard look and return the 'gifts' to its rightful owners.

It's never too late Mr. Levy, just think of the many volunteers who give of their time for no financial gain, to help care for the frail, the needy and the isolated people of this Shire.

Both a councillors’ pledge and a refund of the 'Special Bonus' payment would surely contribute to soften the pain inflicted by potential budget cuts, subsequent job losses, and rates increases.

Bernard Lagarenne

Narooma

Ratep ayers beware of the CON

THE Eurobodalla Shire Council have hired a CONsultant to con ratepayers during a public CONsultation process CONcluding with ratepayers paying CONsiderably higher rates.

Council knows the vast majority of ratepayers have busy lives and have neither the time nor desire to participate in council’s games.

On the other hand, our top council staff obviously have plenty of time - at full pay - to conduct and head the steering committee of this thwarted public consultation.

It's a pity they don't have the ability to organise it and avoid another large consultancy fee.

The only outcome council is interested in is higher rates.

If they can talk the few public participants and their handpicked representatives into agree to increased rates they will claim public backing for the increase.

If the public participating doesn't accept the need for rate increases they will claim they are a very small percentage of ratepayers and the vast majority must agree with higher rates or they would have participated in the public consultation.

A win either way for council and its agenda.

Why not a letter with our rate notices and a simple question: Do you want to pay high rates, yes/no?

That would give all ratepayers a say.

Bruce Rapkins

Belowra

What is happening to Narooma?

WHILST walking down the main street on Thursday, I passed the Court House.

I have never seen as many people waiting to be in there.

It would be interesting for Narooma News to find out how many cases were listed for March 4.

Another point I would like to make is the old car repair site on the flat, this has been an untidy mess since the smash repair place was demolished.

How long can these empty untidy sites be left empty before something has to be done to them, this was supposed to have been sold for the building of units but nothing has transpired.

If we move further along we have the refuge which has been built but now no right hand turn into the chemist, why was it placed just there?

After this we have the old Ampol Station site and it looks as though this is just about ready to be vandalised.

As we go up the hill we have the new units (or apartments as they like to be called) and which are now to be proceeded with but we still have concrete blocks and fence on the side of the road.

These units have one of the best views in Narooma and when they are completed will they be so highly priced that they may be stood empty?

After this we get to Lynches Arcade and what have we there a couple of untidy empty shops, good job we have NRMA and the radio people at the far end.

Three good things to come out of Narooma recently: The cycleway, Melissa in Vancouver and double white lines throughout the Prince Highway.

Come on lets get something done to make Narooma look like it did when I moved here in 1994.

Joan Waite

Narooma

Will you make a difference

What’s to be lost next? It is amazing to hear one of council’s cut backs in expenditure is to rid itself of Narooma’s Lewis Island.

After spending how much on the foreshores at Batemans Bay?

The plan is, amazingly enough, to dismantle the foot bridge.

After 15 years of letting Lewis Island slowly erode into the inlet, they have decided it costs too much to maintain.

The cost in dismantling the bridge would be more money than they have spent on it in the last 15 years and the amount of times it has been mowed could be counted on one hand.

The only other expense was to remove the barbecue and swing set so they wouldn't end up in the Wagonga inlet along with the eroding land.

I must admit they did fix the hand rail on the bridge recently but the job done - well, one only has to look!

Apart from one less attraction for visitors to Narooma, it also means the numerous weddings held there will be no more.

Only last weekend a wedding took place and what better setting for 180 guests to share in the moment.

The natural beauty of crystal clear water and the storm clouds rolling in as a backdrop was spectacular.

You would be hard pressed to find anywhere more unique and picturesque. Lewis Island is a great tourist attraction, as well as a great place for the local community, to enjoy outstanding, uninterrupted, water views.

Narooma is fortunate to have it. Don't let them destroy it by neglect and indifference. Email or call to voice your objection. council@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au or 4474 1000. You have until this Friday to make a difference. Will you make it?

Lyn Carter

Narooma

Housing development being rammed in

I REFER to Mr Garry Mallard’s letter (Narooma News 3/3/10). Mr Mallard has trodden a well worn path in his letter which is clearly a pre-emptive strike at those who would oppose the development.

While I acknowledge his NIMBY comments he and his ilk need to back up a little and consider a few wider ramifications of what looks like “lets ram it in & bugger the consequences” approach. But then again it’s his job to follow party lines isn’t it

As with any major undertaking checks and balances must be established to accord with State and local government’s own guidelines.

State Minister for Housing, Mr David Borger, has stated in his website and I quote:- “this does not mean that we bypass good planning processes or just build because we can”.

“Absolutely none of the stimulus housing projects are high density.”

“None of them are in clusters.”

“None can be built without consultation with local Councils & with local residents.”

“All are architecturally designed to blend with local communities.”

“All have to meet Housing NSW guidelines for social housing design.”

This sounds like a considered approach but other issues need to be considered

a. Is the land suitable for its intended use?

b. What are the social implications for the tenants?

c. Accessibility for the aged or those with disabilities

d. Proximity to public transport, medical facilities, employment etc

e. Are there better sites

f. And most importantly does it meet the needs of those who will live there

The proposal does not meet the minister’s own guidelines and pays lip-service only to the other points

I am writing in the interests of objectivity and obtaining for all potential tenants the best quality of life possible.

The “lets ram it in” approach is a very legitimate concern of the people of Narooma.

The boxes must be ticked or we will be burdened with another insulation initiative debacle where decisions were implemented without proper planning. It is not too late to get it right.

Successful operations are 90 per cent planning and 10 per cent execution – not the reverse.

Hold action whilst the ramifications and suitability are considered. Don’t solve one problem by creating a raft of others.

Drawing a loose parallel it’s a bit like having sex without a condom – it gets rid of the immediate problem but pays no heed to the consequences which can last for a lifetime.

Brian Cassidy

Moruya

Warning aplenty

I AM writing in response to Chris Goldsmith’s letter about the lack of a tsunami warning.

A responsible boatie would listen to a weather report on the radio or TV or go onto the Government internet site (www.bom.gov.au) to check conditions before going to sea.

Legally a boat proceeding more than 2 nautical miles to sea must have a marine radio in the boat, ideally turned on.

Marine Rescue Narooma broadcast the weather forecast four times in the morning with warnings (e.g. nil to strong winds, gale, tsunami warnings, etc) announced each time.

These times are broadcast by 6.15, 7.15, 8.15, 10.15am. So there should be no reason not to hear of any tsunami warnings while on a boat.

Graham Brown,

Unit Commander

Marine Rescue Narooma

Help Mr President

WE cordially invite President Obama to visit the State forests of the South Coast.

While we understand President Obama will be very busy, our point is that we have tried all avenues domestically to have this criminal behaviour rectified and hit brick walls every time.

As we have exhausted all avenues we now must turn to international help.

What better person than the President of the United States?

In this Year of Biodiversity, Forests NSW are set to destroy one of Australia's critical koala habitats.

Forests NSW have given March as a date for the start of logging.

Lisa Stone

Moruya

Still waiting for a response

MR Mallard’s diatribe re: affordable rental housing (NN 3/3/10) is a cheap shot which avoids the issue. He seems unaware of the valuable contributions many Narooma residents have made over the years

We live in a democracy where freedom of speech is a right – maybe not in his world or apparently that of the NSW Ministry of Housing.

I invite Mr Mallard to Narooma to inspect the site to see for himself the immense problems this site poses to tenants by way of access, isolation, distance to services, etc. – and to also inspect more amenable sites. Maybe then he will reconsider his intemperate remarks.

As a candidate for our vote at the last election Dr Mike Kelly promised a whole lot:-

“To connect with people from all walks in life,”

“I want to help deliver a better deal for our community”,

“I believe it is the greatest place on earth to live and we have to a responsibility to all to not only keep it that way but where possible continue to improve & move forward.”

“It is time the silent majority stood up to be counted instead of sitting idle while the noisy minorities ride roughshod over our home.”

“I believe that it is these core values that enable elected government representatives to seek wise counsel and make sound judgments that are in the best interests of our great nation as a whole with respect to all.”

He claimed honesty, integrity, courage, honour and respect whilst he berated Gary Nairn for “failing to take into account the actual cost of projects”

Our concerns, written and verbal have not even had the courtesy of a response.

Why has he excluded us his promises – do we not count or are not deserving of his respect?

We call on Dr Kelly to prove his integrity, honesty and honour his promises.

We call on Dr Kelly to suspend the project pending a full review by the State and local authorities in conjunction with the residents as required by the NSW Housing Minister’s own website.

I invite Dr Kelly to inspect the property before it is too late – what has he to lose?

I look forward to his positive response.

John Wallens

Narooma Lewis appeal

PLEASE let the Narooma public know that Lewis Island bridge is to be taken down by the Eurobodalla Shire Council unless Narooma's public acts now.

Emails must be sent to the council by Thursday, March 11 stating reasons why this must not happen.

Email: council@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au

Fi nd out more in this addition of Narooma News.

Lucy Young

Narooma

Controlled burn destructive

ON Wednesday, February 17 through your letters column, I made some observations about the coming 4000 hectare Wadbilliga burn and asked a series of questions of the coordinator, Ross Constable.

A few days later, like a chook approaching the fox, I sought guidance from the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water.

Preston Cope pointed out that the Wadbilliga burn meets all legal requirements and is in accordance with established strategy.

He went on to say in essence this burn, which flies in the face of all reputable science, is lawful and we're happy about it. Just lie back and think of England.

There is something surreal here:

* Environment NSW, whom we might expect to protect our often unique flora and fauna, is actually trashing them; and

* Their e-mail page, in ink of deep green, sports the exhortation "Please consider the environment before printing this mail" while, according to Ross Constable, Environment NSW is about to reduce 4000 hectares of our rich Wadbilliga flora and fauna to "... a considerable amount of smoke".

Kafka, old mate, eat your heart out.

Clive Banson

Bermagui

Which climate science?

A REPLY to some points of Dr Matthew Nott’s letter (NN 3/3/2010). Yes, the climate is changing, it always has, and always will; such changes are evident from the study of historical and geological records. As commented by a Chinese delegate to the Copenhagen Conference, such changes are cyclical on short and longer time scales.

Climate science does not belong solely to The Hadley Centre (CRU), any Meteorological Office, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Other researchers may process and interpret the data differently. There are still unknowns in climate science, but the way the data has been processed is open to question, and the projections of computer modelers so unreal, due in part to using an unproven climate sensitivity factor. There has been some rise in temperatures, in fact global temperatures have been rebounding from the Little Ice Age for over 200 years now, so what is exceptional about recent warming? Why believe computer projections when the past tell us a different story?

The reason that “there has not been a single peer reviewed article, published in the last 10 (or more) years in Science, New Scientist, or Nature that casts doubt on the fact that human emissions are causing the planet to warm,” is simple. The above group insisted on being the sole peer reviewers for climate papers and found reasons to reject those they did not like. Some institutes prevent such papers being submitted lest they lose their grants. There are many peer-reviewed papers in other journals, and papers on the internet, which are based on accepted scientific principles. If they do contain errors, they are quickly found, corrected or withdrawn. Often “peer review” is meaningless.

Scientists should question and be sceptical of the physics of such problem especially when politicized; those who don’t are just gullible, believing what they are told. As a retired physicist with some geological training, it was not difficult to find the flaws. Why is this paradigm continuing to hold? It has become a political belief. People are only now becoming very concerned when governments choose to impose taxes for putting carbon dioxide into the air, which we all do; the ETS – ours or other world schemes – will reduce world temperatures by but a small fraction of a degree. The oceans and their biota will take care of themselves.

Paul Goard, B.Sc.

North Narooma.

Not just grumpy old men

MR Perkins’ letter to the editor in last week’s Narooma News just says it all as you don't listen to what Dave Clark and Dr Phillip Creagh have been saying about the BMP.

They are not against a Marine Park just certain areas like Nangudga Lake that we have been told were closed by the new scientific evidence and that has never been produced.

My husband has always said the fishing would be better when the trawlers were removed and the MP would be better with the removal of beach hauling.

They have said that from the beginning and they are not old grumpy men as there are plenty of woman who believe you are wrong too, and can you tell me how a marine park can bring in kingfish? - as I believe it has more to do with water temp and currents.

So could you go back and do your research as you contradict yourself all the time Mr Green know all and I am so pleased my husband has been placed by Frank Sartor on the advisory board of the BMP this week.

Karon Clark

Narooma

More could be done to prevent flooding

TO the readers of Narooma News, I'm not a greenie, but I am a conservationist. But I do like fishing, and I eat what I catch, also I shoot and I think that I am helping NPWS by shooting feral rabbits, foxes, pigs, goats and more.

I'm NOT against the NPWS in general, as they have done some wonderous things in our National Parks.

They have also done some things that I am against!

I can only agree with Mr. Stephen Walker on a couple of things in his in his letter(NN 3-3-10),and please note, Stephen, I spelt your name correctly!

1st - A rise in sea level is on the way, but this is a cyclic thing(happened before & happen again), and is not caused by man.

2nd - Councils should have looked more closely at building applications, quite a few years before they did.

Because of a slight chance of flooding, council required us to build any habitable area above the "AHD".

To you Stephen, that is the australian height datum and that cost us many thousands of dollars!

If the lake is kept open, we won’t be flooded in 30 years time.

You talk about flood prone land!

Our land is only flood prone, when the NPWS can't or won’t open our normally beautiful lake!

The recent flooding of our lake, could have been prevented, as could the other lakes etc where fish were left to die!

Our lake was firstly left to get polluted, and then to flood .All this was preventable, so how could NPWS not be held accountable?

Because of the flooding, I fully expected a lot more letters to the editor from Dalmeny residents, who had been affected directly by the flooding!

Perhaps, if our drainage reserve was piped, we may not have flooded so quickly, with the backed up water from the lake.

I have to thank the Narooma Police for calling back to find out how we were coping. Also, thanks to the SES for phoning a number of times to enquire if we required any assistance

I hope that the rubberneckers that came for a look, got their jollies and photos - their bow waves pushed over our garbage bins, and spread the contents of some all over the road - thank-you!

I hope that NPWS staff that stopped and took photos of their handy-work, got some good shots to hang on the wall – “Look what we did!”

Alan Tilly

Dalmeny

I prefer fishing to bitching

OH DEARIE me! I've been accused of whining by Stephen Walker and called a grumpy old man by John Perkins in the same edition of the Narooma News (March 3). My tender, bruised ego reluctantly draws me to the keyboard to pen yet another reply, although I indeed would rather be fishing as Stephen suggests.

First, let me state again that I and most of my fellow miscreants strongly support marine parks as a means of protecting aquatic biodiversity.

We all want to preserve habitat. However, it should again be noted that most of the major threats to biodiversity, such as catchment development, urbanisation and associated pollutants, are land-based and beyond the control of the MPA.

Similarly, the recent, pre-flood fish kills in coastal lakes were climate driven and I concur with Stephen that it is churlish to blame the MPA or National Parks.

Such a lack of control over land-based and natural events may in part explain why the MPA has singled out fishing as the major threat to biodiversity. At least they have the legislative ability to control this so-called nefarious activity.

Having spent around 40 years employed as a fisheries research scientist with State and Commonwealth agencies, I modestly purport to know a fair bit about the management needs for sustainable fisheries.

Therein lies the core of my criticisms of the MPA; They are not a fisheries agency and clearly have little understanding of how to best manage fisheries. The great majority of the no-fishing zones are doing little, if anything, to enhance fish populations as most recreational fish species move around and the zones merely displaces fishing effort at great inconvenience to anglers.

Mr Perkins would do well to remember that during the implementation phase for the BMP, us grumpy old men fought for a total ban on trawling.

The initial zoning plan permitted trawling over a wide area in the belief that the buy-out of trawl permits would reduce trawl effort to an acceptable level. In reality, the one or two remaining trawlers would have almost certainly greatly increased their fishing effort to take advantage of such exclusive access.

I agree that the ban on trawling has probably enhanced the local abundance of species such as flathead. However, there are no reliable comparative abundance data to prove this.

To my knowledge, no recreational catch data collection system is in place for any marine park in NSW. In essence, claims of “the fishing has never been better” are based on anecdotal chat only.

Please, let's get some commonsense into the debate. I would like to think that when the 5 year review process comes round there will be some realistic debate about the usefulness of BMP no-fishing zones, but in the absence of evidence for or against their supposed benefit for fish I suspect that status quo will be maintained. Such is the inertia of bureaucracy.

Relax fair readers! This ignoble, grumpy old scribe will disappear from these august pages for a while, unless prompted by dastardly insults pertaining to my mother.

Mercifully, the NSW government has convened a Select Committee on Recreational Fishing and I surmise that my bitter, twisted, non-fishing, keyboard time is better spent on a submission stating that fish should be managed by fisheries agencies which at least have some grounding in fish management.

Richard Tilzey

Central Tilba

Letter to the Editor ... Response to Mr. John Perkins Narooma News 3rd March 2010.

Mr. Perkins accuses Dave Clark and myself of being “deliberately malicious” concerning the Batemans Marine Park. A serious accusation, but in the next 4 paragraphs of his letter he fails to give any example to back up his accusation?

I will repeat for the benefit of Mr. Perkins. The issue the vast majority of anglers have with the Batemans Marine Park, indeed all NSW Marine Parks, is that none of the REAL threats to marine biodiversity and sustainable ecosystems are considered.

Absolutely no effort has been, or will be, put into the serious issues of fish kills in Northern NSW nor investigating the effects of agricultural run-off and urban pollution on the marine or estuary ecosystems that kill tens of millions of fish and juveniles per year. The Marine Parks Authority even admits it cannot address these issues.

If Kosciuszko National Park was managed in a similar way then no effort would be made to remove weeds, feral animals or control bushfires.

The Marine Parks Authority claims that NSW Marine Parks protect “coastal biodiversity and ecological processes” are gross distortions of reality. They are no more than a cover-up of the failure of the NSW Government to address the real threats to our coastal ecosystems over the past 14 years.

MPA scientists are desperately trying to prove that there are more fish in Sanctuary zones than in other parts of the Marine Park, and are using selective areas to “prove” it. If they can’t prove this then the Government may not be so keen on squandering millions of dollars per year. Therefore they WILL prove it, by whatever means it takes. These same scientists believe that the sanctuary zones within the Solitary Islands and Jervis Bay Marine Parks should be substantially increased, guess what they will say when the Batemans MP comes up for review?.

True marine conservationists should realize these deficiencies and lobby the government to redirect taxpayer funds to worthwhile areas, not the window dressing of ‘Marine Parks”. True marine conservationists are the fishermen, both commercial and recreational, who rely on the sea and estuaries for a living or recreation.

Mr. Perkins is not a scientist, nor a marine conservationist, nor a fisherman. He copied the exact same letter to the Bay Post, merely changing the name of the people he has accused of being “deliberately malicious”, what a crock.

Philip Creagh

Narooma Port Committee