Association should listen
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I have to thank Bill Leakey, president of the Potato Point community association, for his reply to my letter of the week before.
His letter demonstrated to your readers - far more effectively than I could have done - that the association’s demand for a firebreak around Potato Point has no scientific or environmental justification.
Bill says he is writing to ‘correct some of the impressions’ I made, but then conspicuously fails to respond to any of the points I raised.
To remind your readers, these are that Potato Point has a relatively low fire risk compared with many other communities in the Eurobodalla.
The area the association wants to clear is an Endangered Ecological Community containing numerous threatened species.
The village need trees in the area to protect it from wind, embers and radiation.
The kind of firebreak demanded would increase fire risk by permitting stronger winds.
The association is dividing the Potato Point community
Why doesn’t Bill want to talk about these serious issues? Is it because they show up the association’s wrong-headed campaign as unnecessary, procedurally wrong, divisive, damaging to the environment and potentially increasing the fire risk to Potato Point?
Or are they just like the old draught horse that keeps ‘moving ahead' no matter what?
When the association starts to reach out to all village residents, when it starts to take on board authoritative evidence and when it starts to debate the issues it might be seen as a credible body. Until then, its demands are just bluster and hot air.
Bill Barker
Potato Point
Responding with compassion
It is my impression from local conversations and media reports that our community has responded to the tragic shark attack at Tathra with admirable sanity and compassion. For which we deserve congratulations.
In these times it is common for such events to occasion shrill demands for mass slaughter, for guaranteed safety at all costs, for regulations to prohibit citizens from risk-taking.
Careers have been enhanced by whipping up public hysteria and peddling 'solutions'. Fear has become the currency of politics.
Perhaps in our community we have attained the mature wisdom that risk cannot be wholly eliminated from human life, and that it would be undesirable to attempt to do so were it possible?
To see that the Tathra swimmers returned to the water within days was heart-warming.
An act of courage and wisdom and a most respectful acknowledgement of the woman who lost her life doing what she loved.
In politics we are known as the 'bell wether seat', astutely reflecting the political climate of the nation as a whole.
Perhaps we may also serve as an emotional 'bell wether', illustrating Australians' capacity to overcome neurotic hysteria and respond sanely to the risks of living in this country.
Stuart B. Cameron
Bermagui
Overwhelming majority?
The Potato Point community association likes to say that its demand to clear national park vegetation has the support of the 'overwhelming majority' of the village population.
I don't know how they can be so sure of this, seeing that no survey of residents has ever been done.
And what is the value of opinion which has been formed against the background of a scare campaign and much misinformation?
There are many Spud Pointers who don't want this firebreak to go ahead. I was one of 27 people who signed a letter last week to the Environment Minister asking her to stop this environment destruction.
I'm sure there are many more who have the same view. In any case the issue isn't about how many are for or against.
It's about what's the right thing to do. There's no point in destroying the environment if the result is only going to increase the fire risk.
We need to listen to people who really know about fire science, fire management, and environment protection to get a clear idea of which way to go.
And on advice so far, the way to go certainly doesn't involve the community association's half-baked firebreak proposal.
Bill Herringe
Potato Point
Come on Narooma, get holiday trading!
The “holiday season” has just about finished for 2013/14.
Did we notice any changes on how things were done in this town?
Very little!
For a town that relies on the holiday trade, it seems Narooma has no idea on how to do business.
The period between December first through to Easter is the prime trading period for this town. But no-one goes too far out of the way to reap the benefits of this period.
Extended trading is a must and I noticed that only three businesses took the opportunity of doing this - the two supermarkets and a café on the Flat - of all the businesses in the town took the advantage of the visitors’ dollars.
I know that many businesses are family owned and run, but, there are such things as rosters to facilitate the extra opening period.
Working with the public, I was hearing from both visitors and locals the negative side of Narooma holiday trading.
Even in non-holiday periods a cup of coffee can only be found at either end of the town, the Plaza or on the Flat.
There again one coffee shop doesn't open on Sundays in or out of holiday season.
Friends [locals] recently wanted to have coffee in the middle of town a couple of Sundays ago and were very surprised to find that one popular cafe wasn't trading.
For the period from December first, to Easter this town should be a "seven-day-a-week” trading town.
Rostering should come into play with those family run businesses and wherever possible trading should be extended daily to meet the needs of our visitors, after all, they are what keeps this town alive.
Not everyone is going fishing or spending the day on the beach, so they want to socialise at a coffee shop or peruse the few stores this town still has.
Not getting this [as is expected of holiday makers these days] is one way of them deciding not to come back the following season and their holiday dollars with them. As it was this year many left soon after New Year instead of staying on until Australia day.
So take note Narooma, lift your game in trading next holiday period because this is the period where the most money for your businesses is made and if you are not prepared to do this then don't grumble about a poor season.
You the business community at present are your own worst enemy!
John Hunter
Narooma
Mayor’s say… What to do and see these holidays
I ALWAYS try to remember that at this time the year when many of us have the opportunity to have a break from work or welcome family members back home or friends for a visit, that there are also many who don’t.
Some of this group work in businesses that support the $370 million tourism visitor economy that provides more than 25 per cent of jobs in Eurobodalla.
Having a healthy tourism industry contributes more than just dollars and jobs and there is a significant social benefit that tourism offers to residents.
Without our tourism industry, the cafes and restaurants, shops and markets, attractions, tours and events that we enjoy all year around on our doorstep would not survive.
Many in our wonderful arts community would not be able to make a living so we would miss the chance to see their local exhibitions. Infrastructure such as boating facilities, pathways, parks and gardens might not be as well-resourced as Council would have far funds and incentive to invest in these, a and may not be as successful when applying for grants.
Holidays are an opportunity for all residents to acknowledge the long working hours and contribution that small businesses make to ensure that more than 1 million visitors have a great time when they’re in Eurobodalla and that they spend their money too.
Shop locally, holiday at home, and encouraging your visiting family and friends to go to our attractions or take a tour and eat out are all ways we can make sure these businesses survive the winter and are here for us to enjoy all year around.
If you’re not sure where to start or what’s available you can drop in to our visitor information centres or Council’s tourism website at www.eurobodalla.com.au and check out the “What to Do and See and What’s On” pages.
And as always, keep an eye out for visitors who may need a helping hand or a bit of local knowledge – let’s show them that Eurobodalla is a genuinely welcoming place to have a holiday.
Council has put on a great range of activities and events for the school holidays.
The Giant Easter Fair at our Botanic Gardens is a great family day out. The Coastal Exposure program we are running with the Nature Coast Marine Group and the Batemans Marine Park will be very enlightening and there are plenty of art exhibitions and activities at our libraries for young and old.
Don’t forget that the annual Tilba Festival on Easter Saturday is always an entertaining day out and this year’s program looks better than ever. You can expect live music, roaming street performers, hilarious street games, rides, markets, delicious food, an art show and much more!
Please let me know if there are any issues that council can assist with. You can contact me at mayor@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au or phone 0418 279 215.
Cr Lindsay Brown
Mayor of Eurobodalla Shire
Clearing not Potato Point fire answer
I wish to inform you that many of us residents do not wish to see any further clearing in the area of national park just west of Potato Point village, as proposed by the community association.
This association which was formed in September 2013 is not representative of the whole/wider community as has been portrayed in their media coverage.
Having attended all bar one of the association's meetings, I have found their campaign to be alarmist, confusing and misleading with media headings such as "restoration of historic firebreak at Potato Point".
What is an historic firebreak? The area was formerly cleared for paddocks for the purpose of grazing cattle.
At the March 22 meeting, one of Australia's leading fire scientists presented residents with scientific research data conveying that while Potato Point is a fire prone area (as are many areas up and down the coast) it has a relatively low fire risk and the existing fire break (which was constructed in December 2013) is adequate.
The Casuarinas are a low flammable tree and protect the village by trapping embers, mitigating wind and reducing radiant heat.
More clearing would actually increase the risk to property allowing winds to transport embers.
Residents can better protect their properties by clearing fire sensitive vegetation 2 metres from their home as well as other house protecting measures like covering wood piles etc.
Also at the March 22 meeting, the findings of the Species Impact Study carried out by consultants to the National Parks and Wildlife Service have determined that a large part of the area in question is an endangered Ecological Community (Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest), which has particular environmental value requiring legal processes to be worked through before it can be altered.
The study further showed that the locality is home to 11 threatened fauna species, including six within the study area, the area is clearly worth protecting.
Now having listened to both sides of the firebreak issue I don't see how we can overlook the findings of the Species Impact Study and also the Scientific Based Data on bush fires, as presented to our community.
Trish Nightingale
Potato Point
Saving our planet
I was thinking about the news the other day that more countries are starting to legalise same-sex marriage.
Question - would this help to control the world’s overgrown population?
Scientists say that the world population doubled in last 50 years!
What would happen in the next 50 years if the growth keeps up?
It wouldn’t be double or triple growth, more like a great explosion of the population!
Even nowadays many countries can’t cope with their people, so they seeking desperately somewhere else to settle as asylum seekers.
If the world population, as I see it, keeps on growing, there could be huge problems maintaining acceptable living conditions.
As scientists claim that punishing our planet is due to mankind!
One of the big problem will arise is to produce enough food, water, electricity and land for housing etc.
Maybe it is not a bad idea to have the same-sex marriages in respect of birth control? Just a thought…
Gus Slaninka
Kianga
Lynch’s Hotel cancer research fundraiser
I would like to thank our amazing community, businesses, tourists and local individuals for helping this short run fundraiser become a success.
Without beautiful people that are willing to help we could not off raised such funds in a month.
We raised $6189.50 which is fantastic and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation appreciates it and it will be put to good use.
We should all feel really good and not so helpless towards the plight to find a cure for all cancer which is what many foundations/ organisations are really striving for.
This experience has touched not only myself but the people that helped me in so many ways as you do not realise until you get out there and listen how many people have been affected.
Special acknowledgement of many thanks to:
Island Charters Narooma, Georgies Fine Jewellery, Narooma Newsagency, Montague Arts & Crafts Society, Narooma Chemist (Jim Hoar), Narooma Ice Creamery, Home Flare & Carpets, Narooma Holiday Lodge, Auto Pro Narooma, Narooma Motors, Narooma Footwear, Cascades Hairdressing, 4Her, Narooma Surf & Skate, Cignall Tobacconist, Complete Angler, Eumun Tea Tilba, Mike Woods Fishing & Hobbies, Furniture One, Pacific Furniture, Horizon Electrical & Solar, Mitre 10, Betta Electrical, Anton’s Café, Kayaking Narooma, Narooma Veterinary Hospital, Boral Timber, Café Valencia, Kimberley Trethowan, Narooma Fishing Charters, Montague Coffee,
Rappley’s Meats, DJ LALA, Casey’s Café, Club Narooma, Narooma Golf Club, Sue Powell, Elite Hairdressing Moruya, Narooma Tyre Service, Whackers Photo & Picture Framing, Riverview Houseboats, Narooma Meat Centre, Wildfire Hospitality (Fulya & Rosh), Knit One Purl One, Surfbeach Holiday Park, Narooma Building Supplies, Stan Gorton & Narooma News, 2EC Radio (Pete Dickson), Jan & Denham Carter of Lynch’s Hotel, MZS Structural Designs (Ziggy & Sharon), Pete Duryea, Sue Shelley, Mandy & Cheryl & Danielle Nimmo, Gary Leahy, Helen, Marcus, Mariah, Nathan & Gerd Tiedt, Melinda Bradley, Sue Powell, Terry Gillam, Shane Menzies, Emma, ACRF (Australian Cancer Research Foundation), Adrian Fisse Designs for donating Http:/naroomacharity.com.au for everyone in our community to use for future fundraising!
Natasha Tiedt
Narooma
Letter to GM on Woolworths
The following is the start of the letter to Bega Valley Shire Council general manager Leanne Barnes in reference to the Development Application for the Bermagui Woolworths:
Dear Ms Barnes,
I write to you, on behalf of many concerned residents, to raise a number of points and concerns around the process that has been run in assessing the above DA and its approval.
Therefore, we ask that you halt the approval process for this DA until we receive your considered response. Please see our comments below which follow each numbered or dot point.
* Community engagement and legislative requirements
* Bega Valley Shire Council will address the matter of ‘Community Engagement and Information’
* Sharing in a systematic manner by ensuring all members of the community has a right, and a responsibility, to contribute to their community’s future.
Does this not mean that those who do not make a submission on this DA are not taking their responsibility seriously and by default are excluded from consideration? The vast majority have access to pen and paper, a fax if not computer, or friends or associates who do.
Of the 160 submissions council received were not in favour of this DA, declaring the lack of public interest, approximately 30 were to the contrary.
• Providing the local community with consistent, meaningful opportunities to participate in
and contribute to planning Council services
At no time has there been the reasonable opportunity for the residents to gauge the extent of such a large building by viewing the site poles, which have been erected several times and then removed. How is this meaningful opportunity to understand and contribute valid feedback?
• Ensuring all statutory advertising and public exhibition periods for Council related matters
are met or exceeded.
The exhibition periods and response time frames have been unreasonable and during or close to times of distraction such as Christmas and other Public Holidays – the next meeting is scheduled for the Wednesday before Good Friday this month.
• Independently surveying community attitudes and priorities on a regular basis with the
results to be made public
Since the beginning of the approval process of this DA and apart from 2 public meetings, there has been little notification of results and expressed priorities on a regular basis, except perhaps via your web site – as admitted by one councillor, quite a percentage of the community do not have access to such facilities, so insufficient surveying and reporting has occurred.
• Considering the following level when developing and reporting on its community
engagement approach:
o Informing: To provide the community with balanced and objective information to
help them understand a problem, alternatives, opportunities and/or solutions.
What alternatives and solutions have been put forward by council in regards to this proposed development? Valid options exist, such as a cyber store in the existing arcade, community food purchasing cooperative, programs to set and support community gardens, etc.. None have been proposed.
o Consulting: To obtain community feedback on alternatives and/or decisions.
Insufficient and consulting is evident in this case, with some on council claiming the silent majority as relevant. Ad hoc walk-throughs of the CBD do not constitute due process for obtaining clear feedback from our community, especially when no alternatives have been offered.
o Involving: To work directly with the community throughout the process to ensure
that public concerns and aspirations are consistently understood and considered.
Clearly stated public concerns and aspirations have been disregarded and minimal direct research has been carried out by councillors or staff.
o Collaborating: To partner with the community in each aspect of the decision making process including the development of alternatives and identification of the preferred solution.
No alternatives have been offered, asked for or discussed; the preferred solution has been written and submitted, signed on numerous petitions and phone calls and emails sent, with little or no response to them or apparent disregard for them.
• Ensuring Council’s engagement reflects the adopted values of the organisation.
Stated Council values have not been reflected in the community engagement or the approval process.
• Ensuring Council’s engagement with the community exhibits the following characteristics:
o Be within clear and reasonable timeframes
See response **
o Aim for continuous improvement
This does not default to commercial development nor greater choice of groceries and liquor. Continuous improvement of quality of life equally means healthier food, safe and negotiable streets and precinct as well as acknowledgement and enhancement of community spirit.
o Be simple, accessible and open
The level of accessibility and openness is debatable at best.
o Value the contribution of community members
Private e-mails sent as contribution to some councillors have been devalued and seen to be coercion when they have been only opinion, intentional and questioning.
• Ensure that the manner of engagement or consultation is reflective of best practice for the
related project.
Our responses to the previous points question the adherence to best practice.
Integrated Planning and Reporting:
Legislative requirements - NSW Local Government Act 1993, Local Government Amendment (Planning and Reporting) Act 2009
Policy Statement
The Integrated Planning and Reporting process is about identifying the community aspirations, need and priorities for the future and outlining council’s strategies to achieve this vision.
Council will work together with the community and agencies to create a shire that reflects
changing needs while preserving local identity and planning for a more sustainable future.
Bega Valley Shire Council will meet the following planning requirements:
• Development and implementation of the Community Engagement Strategy which will be
based on social justice principles for engagement with the local community.
While this is an admirable statement, the social justice influence seems less valued. Though balance is a challenge for municipal governance, we see that there are viable and accessible alternatives to attaining social justice.
We acknowledge that it is practical and reasonable to seek to reduce the cost of groceries in our town, albeit for a short term only, yet approving another supermarket is flawed logic and counter intuitive, if you have a sustainable future in mind as stated in your 2030 Community Strategic Plan.
At the heart of this document is public trust as a value and this is at risk when reviewing the approval process of this DA.
A SUSTAINABLE PLACE – By 2030 in the Bega Valley
S1 Valued natural environments: The natural environment and ecosystems are appropriately protected and enhanced.
Such a large development negatively impacts these values.
S2 Sustainable communities: Our community has the services, opportunities and support to live sustainably.
Large concrete buildings and increased heavy traffic do not sit within sustainable living.
S3 Character and amenity: The character and amenity of our towns and villages is protected and enhanced.
Large concrete, windowless structures in the heart of our historic village, even they are clad, are anathema.
S4 Proactive support and planning: There is proactive planning with the community for the protection of our built and natural environment.
This seems to have been overlooked to a great extent and therefore not in our public interest
On the matter of balanced and consistent decision-making by Council, the recent Eden case that was not approved is clearly inconsistent with the Bermagui case, both based on impact on viability and tourism. Follows is an excerpt from your own Press Release dated 13th February 2014, which could be issued by Bermagui community, almost word for word:
“It is encouraging to see the community being so involved in the wellbeing of their town, however it’s important to remember that the decision was made on strict planning procedures designed with fairness in mind.
“Provisions such as environmental impacts, historical values, social and economic impacts and suitability of the site are just a few of the things we considered.
“A further 132 signatures were added yesterday to the 1429 already on the petition to stop the demolition of the hotel, which shows positive community support for Council’s unanimous decision.”
From the 3,277 population of Eden, they gathered 1,561 signatures. From the population of 1,473 (2011 Census) of Bermagui gathered 166 signatures in a week in March, adding to the approx 1,000 on a petition last year. Both have been delivered to Council clearly indicating the same grounds of concern and dissent.
Just as a clarification on the activities in question, we have sited the following as relevant areas of concern:
Model Code of Conduct - section 440 of the Local Government Act 1993 (“the Act”).
Failure by a councillor to comply with the standards of conduct prescribed under this code constitutes misconduct for the purposes of the Act. Failure by a member of staff to comply with council’s code of conduct may give rise to disciplinary action.
3.1 d) is an abuse of power or otherwise amounts to misconduct.
3.4 You must consider issues consistently, promptly and fairly. You must deal with matters in accordance with established procedures, in a non-discriminatory manner.
The Eden case is a precedent for our region and needs to be taken more seriously when considering the proposed Bermagui development. Mostly locally owned, IGA has greater engagement with community than Woolworths, who would therefore be far less sustaining of our town.
3.5 You must take all relevant facts known to you, or that you should be reasonably aware of, into consideration and have regard to the particular merits of each case. You must not take irrelevant matters or circumstances into consideration when making decisions.
We site the ‘silent majority’ as inaccurate, irrelevant and a nonsense. Relying on silent majority is not in public interest.
Development decisions
3.7 You must ensure that development decisions are properly made and that parties involved in the development process are dealt with fairly. You must avoid any occasion for suspicion of improper conduct in the development assessment process.
Already suspicion of staff and councillor behaviour exists in our town, so this clause has been contravened.
3.8 In determining development applications, you must ensure that no action, statement or communication between yourself and applicants or objectors The Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW – March 2013
4. Conflict of Interest:
Regarding this section, one question has been alluded to and needs confirmation:
Are there any holders of Woolworth shares on Council and in the staff involved in the planning and approval process who have not declared their interests?
Are there any other direct or indirect connections with Woolworths and councillors or staff? It would be appreciated if you could provide a copy of your Register of Interests relating to those concerned is a reasonable way to declare their position in this regard.
New Development Application pursuant to DA 2103.405
Regarding the new DA which has been lodged to replace the previous DA, this new DA appears not to have been exhibited for community consultation, for at least 30 days, as required by your Policy.
Please provide evidence and the schedule of the exhibiting and community consultation about this subsequent DA. It is in our public interest to be fully conversant with any proposed development of this or similar size.
Lastly, we ask that it is only reasonable that the meeting to review these and other matters relating to this DA be held in our own Community Centre, a far more convenient site for our residents to attend and show our position, whichever it maybe.
Thanks for your consideration of these matters and we look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Paul Payten
Bermagui