Everything was “hunky dory “at the last council meeting until a few questions were raised.

Councillors were all happy little Vegemites, as happy as can be, all good friends and jolly good company.

When asked why the letter supposedly sent to the 6000 property owners hadn’t arrived panic set in.

Suddenly a letter signed by the mayor on August 23 floated from the heavens.

It did not mention that the council had put sea level rise notations on individual 149 Certificates ‘Murphy’s Law - If anything can go wrong give it will.

The contractors had not sent the letter out and as a result got the “bullet”.

Suddenly the newly elected ERA councillors got into the act and a revised letter by the planner was proposed.

It was stated that this would satisfy the concerns of the councillors. Forget the people! Bingo!

This was sent out and arrived some five days after it was signed by the Mayor.

It still did not state that 149 notations had been put on individual 6000 properties.

The consultant’s coloured explanatory flier did not accompany this letter.

Specific recommendations from the consultants regarding transparency and civic duty of the councillors had been ignored.

The editor of the Bay Post introduced the personal side of this and must be complemented.

Luckily her solicitor was on the ball. The seller, consistent with other property owners, probably would not have known that their property had been condemned by the council to the deep blue sea.

Letters have flooded blogs, internet, face book and Fairfax press.

The report has been placed on exhibition - one at each library and one to borrow- for one night only).

It has been reported as “Greens Cods Wallop “and “based on a deceptive, flawed, discriminatory and punitive Sea – Level Rise Policy. “ (Bay Post) This policy must be read in conjunction with that exhibited and is not available.

Both letters signed by the mayor show a lack of moral fortitude (guts to some) to fully explain the reality and truth.

The report is mainly a one eyed collection of regurgitated information already on the internet. It has ignored many completed flood studies, much local knowledge and particulars referred by the chief investigator Barbara Norman from the University of Canberra (Refer Narooma News).

Many case studies covering susceptible areas in particular Narooma, Moruya and Batemans Bay have been ignored.

Narooma Flood studies were carried out 2012 and to my knowledge have not been released. Our local representatives, the Mayor and Deputy have been warned their necks are on the “chopping block” if this ‘hidden’ report is not released immediately.

The findings will most certainly affect Dalmeny, Kianga and in particular the flat at Narooma.

Wagonga Inlet is part of a drowned river valley and the flat, lifeline of the South Coast, is a low lying vulnerable delta.

Strange enough it has been exempted.

Peter Bernard

Dalmeny 

Fixed wireless issues at Tilba

I’m writing to address the issues raised in ‘Neighbours oppose NBN Towers’ published 20 August 2014, regarding the fixed wireless service coming to Tilba.

No single site has yet been proposed for the fixed wireless facility – rather we are currently scoping a range of potential locations.

Furthermore, NBN Co is undertaking a comprehensive consultation process with the community being invited to comment on the proposed locations or make their own suggestions.

We are seeking to strike a balance between community lifestyle and visual amenity concerns whilst providing a reliable, fast broadband service to as many residents and businesses as possible.

I also want to assure the community that fixed wireless is the best technology solution for Tilba.

With it, residents will get better access to e-health, distance education and entertainment on demand, whilst businesses could potentially increase productivity, reduce costs and access new markets.

In regards to the consultation process, NBN Co is committed to open and transparent community engagement and in Tilba, we have gone over and above the statutory requirements.  This includes:

* A community information session, on August 27

* A letter to all properties in Central Tilba, on August 14

* Invitations placed around Central Tilba, including the local general store and Post Office

* Promotion of the event via the Central Tilba Chamber of Commerce’s business networks

We look forward to discussing the NBN rollout in detail with the residents of Tilba today, Wednesday, August 27 from 3pm to 6pm.

Tony Gibbs, Community Relations Advisor

NBN Co

Sea level rise policy and planning

Council’s Sea Level Rise Policy and Planning Response Framework Report is currently on public exhibition.

In a nutshell, the report cherry picks sea level readings from Fort Denison, says that these are the same as global sea level rise trends, and recommends that the global figures and IPCC sea level rise projections be adopted.

Risk assessments that were prepared by the consultants and council planning staff without any community involvement, opt for adoption of the worst case sea level rise projections.

The report concludes that the consequences of selecting “too low” projection are more significant than selecting “too high” projections. The consultants completely ignore the social and economic impacts of this recommendation.

I am reliably informed that the brief against which this report was prepared, made the task a simple “join the dots” exercise for the consultants.

The brief prepared by state government and council bureaucrats was so prescriptive that the outcomes were predetermined. Why has the General Manager ignored my request for that brief to be released as part of the exhibition documents?

It should be no surprise that the Eurobodalla’s interim sea level rise policy fits like a glove into the planning framework outlined in the report.

If it is accepted, we can expect council planners to move for their interim policy to be rubber stamped and incorporated in the final Eurobodalla coastal management plan.

The 6,000 ratepayers who own property in a sea level investigation area can look forward to the enforcement of highly punitive restrictions on their homes or commercial buildings.

Those planning renovations or extensions will be forced to spend thousands of extra dollars on DA’s and coastal engineering reports, and the negative effect on property values will resonate throughout the shire.

When are the Mayor and his councillor support group going to start working in the interests of the community, instead of pandering to council planners with their own political agendas?

Ian Hitchcock

Dalmeny

Mayor's say… Rebuilding NSW

The NSW Government is rolling out its Rebuilding NSW proposal and last week I attended a forum in Queanbeyan for councils and other stakeholders including Regional Development Australia.

The forum was presented by Mr Simon Draper Acting Deputy Secretary - Productivity and Sustainability Group in the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet and we were invited as part of the government’s consultation process.

The government is inviting submissions from the public and you can view the discussion paper online by searching for Rebuilding NSW at www.nsw.gov.au

In brief, the forum was an opportunity to understand the government’s priorities and how and where we can advocate for funding through the submission process, for infrastructure in Eurobodalla that will help to secure a sustainable economic future for our community.

The proposal being put forward is that the NSW Government would unlock an additional $20 billion into rebuilding infrastructure in Sydney and Regional NSW and that this would see investment into roads, public transport, schools, hospitals, and sports and cultural facilities.

To fund Rebuilding NSW, the government would lease 49 per cent of NSW’s electricity network or “poles and wires” assets.  The proposal is planned to create new jobs across NSW and there would also be a strategy to improve training and apprenticeship opportunities. 

It was made quite clear that Council’s interested in presenting submissions for infrastructure projects would need to show evidence that the projects are in line with long term strategies and supported by a strong business case for economic growth.

The strategic priorities noted in the proposal for rebuilding regional NSW include a regional road fund of around $1 billion for both state and local roads, a regional water fund of around $1 billion that would fund projects that can help minimise water loss, and improve efficiency, dam security and water quality, a schools and hospital fund, and a sporting and cultural fund of around $500 million.

This is a much needed opportunity to secure funds to grow our economy in Eurobodalla and I assure all residents that I will be continuing to advocate for our community through the submission and final recommendations process.

Those of you who regularly follow my column will know that I work hard and am very focussed on making the most of opportunities to represent Eurobodalla with all levels of government.

I have made many connections in the past few years as mayor and I will be rattling and shaking as many influential doors as I can to ensure that Eurobodalla is top of mind in this process.

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.

Clr Lindsay Brown, Mayor of Eurobodalla Shire

The good souls of Bermagui come to the rescue

Once in a while, when you think the world can't get much worse, there's a flash of light that blinds you for a second, and then reveals that it is hiding a nugget!

That flash of light occurred for me last week when my good friend from Bermagui rang to tell me that she, her husband and other friends had raised over $500 for the Hobsons Bay Refugee Network's 'whitegoods project'. WOW!!!

The following day, I was given $100 by my old next-door neighbour - who's grumpy with the Party which gave him life-membership a couple of years ago but who now - according to him - "is betraying Labor principles to please the voters of Western Sydney".

Combining this with the Bermagui gift, we can purchase re-conditioned (and tested) washing machines for five asylum seeker families living here, in Melbourne’s Western Region.

These are the "boat people" - the ones who are not allowed to work. They're all cold (it's freezing in Melb this winter and they can't afford heating) but they can still acknowledge that they're better off than those who are on Christmas Island, Nauru or Manus.

You can imagine how much difference such acquisitions make to their lives.

Especially to those carrying injuries from past mistreatment, or from violence inside detention centres.

And when 'the washing machine man' gives us his discount (he always does) we're going to have enough left to buy some toys for the little mites in MITA (Maribyrnong Immigration Transfer Accommodation Centre.)

It's in Broadmeadows. It's a prison for very new mothers who've been brought from the 'hell-holes' to give birth here because of the paucity of decent standard obstetric facilities in those places. When their babies are exactly 6 weeks old, they are shipped back to the offshore camps with their sad, sad mothers - and the little siblings who sometimes accompany their mums on these miserable journeys.

We like buying them new toys to accompany the pre-loved ones that we can also give them.

In 'The Year of Living Dangerously', when Billy Kwan was asked: 'How do you just keep on...he said, "When surrounded with so much misery, you do what you can: you add your light to the sum of all light'.

Thanks, Bermagui friends for adding a bit of light to the lives of these desperate, scared people who - for the moment, anyway, are now living amongst us.

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you, you good, solid Bermagui hearts!

Ann Morrow

Williamstown

Things take a while in Rome too

In 1578 Pope Clement XII contacted Rome Council to do a makeover of Trevi Fountain ASAP.

"Un momento Papa" replied Bruno "Blocker" Verde, Chief Honcho, "we have to do a few

Things first, such as an Environmental Impact Study, a study of Heavy Metal Transfer from all the coins tossed in, a study of the impact of abraided stone dust on the environment, a study on traffic congestion during the process, a study of the impact on water flow and a study on the impact on Tourism  during works.

These are just for starters",

From Rome in August 2014, I am pleased to advise that all conditions have been met, and work commenced - in the height of the Tourist Season of course. (See picture)

So Eurobodalla Shire Council is not so slow after all. Perhaps the Apex Park boat ramp will be completed in my lifetime.

Frank O'Brien

Narooma (in Rome)