Human beings are having a negative impact
AFTER reading K. Kreuger’s letter in last week’s paper, I started thinking about what was said.
In relation to global warming I don’t know who to believe, experts can be found for both sides but I do know this, we as human beings are impacting negatively on this planet and definitely need to rethink how we live.
We have the technology to make everyday items last a very long time but instead of doing this and repairing them, which in turn generates employment, they are made as cheap as possible so we buy, use and throw away greatly increasing the burden on this planet and its resources.
Another thing that I find strange is the many, many tons of fireworks let off in Australia alone, 12 tonnes just for Sydney’s New Year Eve display, it is pretty I know but it still pollutes our air and waterways, not to mention the terror it instils in our pets, maybe a laser display would be more appropriate.
In regards to the Eurobodalla Shire Council, set up a huge solar plant and start selling the electricity to Eurobodalla residents, I for one would be happy to change my supplier to something like this knowing that the profits will directly benefit my community.
For the same reasons why not set up a community bank or building society, the profits once again subsidise other council projects.
I am sure there are many other good ideas out there and sincerely hope that this newly elected council will seriously look at alternatives that are kind to the environment and beneficial to the ratepayers.
Annette Anderson
Bodalla
So much more needed to help koalas
WHILE agreeing that serious collaboration is required to help koalas, the Eurobodalla Koala Project (Narooma News, Jan 9) falls a bit short of that mark.
Koalas are like any species and can only survive where there is suitable habitat.
About 50 per cent of suitable habitat is occupied by koalas at any given time and a population requires 350-500 animals.
Despite arguments to the contrary there has been no solid evidence of breeding koalas outside of the catchments from Wapengo in the south, to Dignams Creek in the north for more than a decade. Within these catchments solid evidence of breeding koalas has been largely confined to forests growing on the Murrah Soil Landscape.
Hence, and based on the estimate of 50 koalas in the afforementioned catchments, there is no more than 15000ha of suitable koala habitat remaining in the Bioregion that includes all of the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla shires.
Tree species distribution is only of value where koalas are and broadscale mapping of tree species is confused because the NPWS and Forests NSW have their own different, but in both cases largely unverified, methods of vegetation mapping.
Neither agency considers soils, the major factor influencing koala distribution and survival.
Helping koalas requires the use of credible environmental science to aid in addressing the threats to the species, namely unsustainable logging and extensive canopy dieback.
I can assure the Eurobodalla Koala Project that while the NSW Government has been given funds to stop some logging and it has acknowledged native vegetation in NSW is in decline, there is no evidence that it is prepared to acknowledge or address dieback to help koalas at a local scale.
Robert Bertram
Bermagui
More local focus needed
I RECENTLY had breakfast at ‘Sprout’, the new cafe on Imlay Street, Eden, just along from the post office.
Delicious local produce, beautifully prepared and presented.
And ‘Sprout’ is much more than an excellent cafe. One can also buy an extensive array of local produce.
Just while I was there apricots, avocados and great bunches of silverbeet were delivered. The apricots made a very fine jam.
‘Sprout’ is part of the South East Food project, whose goals include helping local producers sell their food through local outlets, marketing the region as a supportive and exciting place to produce, experience and live on sustainably produced food and promoting the development of local food styles.
All of which amount to creating valuable new business and employment opportunities in our region, by making the very best use of local resources for the benefit of the local community.
‘Sprout’ is a portent of one possible path into the future for our region.
There are ample signs pointing to another and very dismal prospect.
The corporate oligarchs are intent on colonizing our region, destroying our local businesses, denying local producers outlets, replacing meaningful jobs with automated checkouts and minimum wage drudgery.
Their vision is to deface our villages with banal tilt-slab monstrosities, clutter our narrow roads with huge trucks hauling stale produce over vast distances from producers paid so little they have no possibility of producing sustainably.
All in order to fatten the grotesque salaries of executives shipped in from overseas for a year or two till the they move on to despoil the next colony.
It is wholly fitting that one of them has chosen a writhing green tapeworm as its symbol.
Please check out ‘Sprout’ if you happen to visit Eden. It is very good for the palate, and equally so for the spirit to see such a generous vision brought to reality.
Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in ‘Sprout’ nor am I connected with the South East Food project.
Stuart B. Cameron
Bermagui
Clean Energy for Eternity: Extreme heat more common
WHILE much of the country swelters through a nasty heat wave, the official 2012 weather report has been delivered by the Bureau of Meteorology.
From hot spells to floods, extreme weather events were felt across the country, most noticeably:
Flooding in the east of the country due to “one of the most extreme multi-day rainfall events in southeast Australia’s history.”
The second hottest August-December period on record – 1.58 degrees above average across the country.
One of the most significant spring heatwaves on record across much of eastern Australia at the end of November
No rain was recorded at Alice Springs Airport in the 157 days from April 25 to September 28, the longest rainless period in the site’s 71-year history. Meanwhile the city had its equal hottest September and October days;
Record-high monthly maxima were recorded in the Kimberley and Pilbara for August, in northeastern South Australia for November, and parts of the far northern coast for December.
Heat and extreme weather was a feature of 2012.
As for what’s in store in 2013?
The Bureau suggests the hot end to last year is set to extend well into this as La Nina will not be a factor. It’s early days, but with January on track to be one of the hottest months ever, the stage is certainly set for more unwelcome records in 2013. Indeed, early forecasts suggest it may be the globe’s hottest year on record.
The hottest ever average maximum temperature ever recorded across Australia - 40.33 degrees, set on Monday - might stand for only a few days.
"The current heatwave - in terms of its duration, its intensity, and its extent - is now unprecedented in our record," said the Bureau of Meteorology's manager of climate monitoring and prediction, David Jones.
"Clearly, the climate system is responding to the background warming trend. Everything that happens in the climate system now is taking place on a planet which is a degree hotter than it used to be."
As the warming trend continues over coming decades, record-breaking heat will become more common, Dr Jones said.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Matthew Nott
www.cleanenergyforeternity.net.au
Short but sweet
I HAVE to thank local comedian Frank O'Brien for his hilarious joke letter in this week's Narooma News.
What else could you say about a person who would write "The world has not got [sic] warmer in the past 12 years, the trend has stopped." during what is shaping up to be the hottest summer ever recorded in Australia. Kudos, Mr O'Brien, for your astonishing wit.
Michael Ian Kocwin
Potato Point
Advertorial ill-advised
I READ with interest the “advertorial” that appeared under the title “Don’t fear the sun” in the Narooma News on December 26. Merriam-Webster defines advertorial as “an advertisement that imitates editorial format”, and imitate it does, though not being up to the standard that one might hopefully expect from an editorial in your newspaper.
The article contains a series of arguments driven by underlying opinion and not supported by the major body of evidence on the factors likely to increase a person’s risk of developing skin cancer.
Dr Martin Riley
Tuross Head Surgery
Remembering Colleen
I HAVE received a number of positive emails about the piece I did and you ran on Colleen Clarke, so I appreciate the fact you published it.
Yes, she was special. Perhaps people do not quite realise today but Dalmeny was a very isolated community in the old days and the Post Office and exchange family was at the hub of it.
Imagine no coast road to Narooma, very few women driving, most families lucky to own one car that actually drove, no shop at Dalmeny…and you get the picture. People had to rely on each other and they did because they had no option.
With the loss of Harry Bunker and Colleen Clarke, and my mother, there are only two of the original residents left now.
It is interesting how many people contact me: children of families who holidayed here in the 1960s and comment on the articles about the older times and people. Your paper has a big following from out of town.
Ingrid Smith
Glenorie
Our pool is vital
WE are so lucky to have a heated indoor pool in Narooma.
Visitors to town are amazed that it is 50 metres- as that is not available anywhere else on the South Coast.
Unfortunately it is under threat from some people who don’t understand its value.
It could be a wonderful tourist attraction for our town- not only for those wanting to keep up their swimming training while on holidays - but also for cheap sun smart water play and a healthy escape from the elements during bad weather.
It is a great pool and the inflatable and the maze are terrific!
I don’t understand why council doesn’t advertise the pool in their visitor centres and their holiday planner brochures.
Why is that? Council needs to advertise its facilities just as much as small businesses if they want them to survive the quiet winter months.
There is a survey available to fill in on council’s website and hard copies available at the pools.
If you value this facility please take the time to fill one in.
Council is after comments re opening hours, entrance fees, the facility etc. Is anyone else interested in pool volleyball or water polo? The survey closes soon!
Kathie Thackray
Narooma