Final Word?
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There are only two things I can't resist: a challenge, and temptation! Last week's Narooma News contained two letters from our democracy-loving SAFE members, once again promulgating mistruths and bad maths in a misguided attempt to mislead non-aligned readers into opposing HuntFest. First, Ms Webb opined that "Eighty-one percent of people who identified themselves as residents made submissions opposing the expansion of HuntFest..." Given that the shire has about 37,000 inhabitants, most of whom no doubt do identify themselves as residents, a couple of hundred do not constitute 81 per cent! Second, Ms Webb omitted to mention that more than half of the 489 submissions made to Council on the issue actually supported the proposed changes. Admittedly more than 50 per cent of the "pro" submissions were from people outside of the shire, although unlike the 40,000 names on an "anti" petition, the 'pros' were real Australians, many, if not most, of whom had visited HuntFest over the past two years. Some of the SAFE petition signatories were from people from such areas as the Upper Volga and other peace-loving democracies.......Although just why someone from Russia, Africa or outer space would care one way or another about HuntFest is one of life's unexplained mysteries.
Second, Ms Webb argues that because "less than eight per cent" of the total submission numbers were from shire residents supporting the changes, the Councillors ignored the views of "92 per cent of participating residents". No, Ms Webb, less than 50 per cent of submissions opposed HuntFest, residents or not. 100 less 8 does equal 92 (congratulations!) but that remaining 92 per cent includes more than half of the total, who DID support HuntFest! Now, given that HuntFest is an event designed to attract visitors from other parts of NSW, other States and even overseas, the fact that a high percentage of supportive submissions were from Australians outside of the shire means that HuntFest is hitting the target ie attracting visitors from elsewhere to come to Narooma during an otherwise quiet winter! So well done, those Councillors who voted for the amendments: they are actually supporting local business, and a legal activity carried out by a local sporting club.
The other letter, from Ms Thackray, a proponent of the blood sport of gamefishing, tries to equate the firearm situation in the USA (appalling!) with that in Japan (laudatory) and that in Australia (well-controlled, at least in terms of legal firearms and licensed shooters). It is worth pointing out that not only do HuntFest supporters I know actively oppose the "gun culture" and firearms laws in the USA (and contrary to SAFE-promulgated rumour HuntFest is NOT funded by the USA's National Rifle Association!), but they support an approach not that unlike the Japanese situation. Here in NSW anyone wanting to purchase a firearm must first be licensed; must obtain a permit to acquire a firearm; must sit out a 'cooling off period'; must keep their weapon/s in an approved container ie a locked steel gun safe secured to the building via steel bolts; and must allow the police to inspect the weapon/s and the storage safe at any time appointed by the police.
In addition, if a licensed shooter needs to purchase ammunition, s/he must show her/his licence to the authorised firearm dealer supplying the ammunition before it can be purchased. The dealer keeps a record of all such purchases. We do not have, or want, atrocities like Columbine High. But hundreds of thousands of decent, law-abiding Australian citizens do enjoy the challenge of hunting feral game (more so for the stalking than the shooting), or of putting half a dozen rounds through the centre of a target at a licensed rifle range. And these people, and the merely curious, enjoy meeting with like-minded people occasionally: events such as HuntFest facilitate this. And after two years of HuntFest, can anyone point to criminal, or even anti-social, activities carried out during, or as a result of, HuntFest? Not that I or the local Police know of! I would therefore be grateful if the issue now ceased to be a bone of contention. Can we all agree to live and let live, please?
S Kennedy
Corunna
Council just don’t get it
AFTER weeks of crying poor and telling ratepayers they must pay 26 per cent higher rates or there will be no more roads or bridges, council announce a huge opening ceremony for our Narooma landscaping.
At a million dollars over budget and six months overdue one wonders whether it is a call for celebration.
Opinions vary widely as to the value for 4.6 million dollars ratepayers have received.
Like it or not, already $1 million out of pocket, perhaps a modest opening would have sufficed.
Not for our mayor and senior council staff. They need a crowd to beat their chests in front of and add to the photo opportunity.
It may have been cheaper to rent a crowd but council decided to bribe them with gifts. Barbecue lunch and ice creams, live music and a jumping castle, face painting and balloons and all for free.
Paid out of the mayor’s allowance? Wrong.
Out of the GM’s inflated salary – not likely. No it all comes out of the rate pool.
It would be a shame to have a ceremony where people could have a quiet walk around the area.
Sad if people had to go to the bakery to buy lunch or the ice creamery for a treat.
The businesses on the flat suffered enormously during the streetscape works. But council is not in the habit of helping small business.
How often must council be reminded to stick to the basics? Public money should not be used to provide entertainment or handouts. Cut the waste and drop the rate rise!
In last week’s mayors column the mayor was wondering why no-one was nominating for an Australia Day award. In the present climate winning an award from the Eurobodalla Council would be akin to winning an award from ISIS or the Klu Klux Klan.
Bruce Rapkins
Kianga
Frightened by Abbott
The Abbott Federal Coalition policies have frightened many Australians. They continue to react to the Coalitions budget initiatives by reduced household expenditure.
There is also general concern that our Community is under threat with severe cuts to the ABC, CSIRO and more stringent criteria to obtain and maintain Centrelink Welfare payments just to mention a few big ticket items.
Abbott’s Coalition has been divisive and secretive in the way it has attempted to introduce its agenda as they are well aware that the electorate will not easily accept the direction that this Federal Government wants them to take.
The question then is, “do they represent the views and aspirations of the majority of Australians?”
The answer is clearly “no’” so therefore our way of life and our democracy is under threat.
On the other hand, the minority are being well cared for.
Our corporate community has not had ONE disposition placed upon them. Indeed many of the Abbott’s Governments policies are designed to clear the way for Corporate Australia to become less accountable to our community and gain easier access to Australia’s resources.
The Coalition’s record on the environment is just one arm of their strategy designed to do this!
. Repealing the carbon price, leaving Australia without an effective climate change policy.
. Attempting to delist Tasmanian World Heritage forests. .
. Abolishing the Climate Commission and attempting to abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), while maintaining fossil fuel subsidies.
. Reviewing the Renewable Energy Target.
. Slashing $483.8 spending on nature protection.
. Abolishing the National Water Commission.
. Defunding Environment Defenders’ Offices.
This Government is also attacking our Community on multiple fronts by:
. Cutting Hospital funding.
. Cutting Public Education funding.
. Deregulating University fees.
. Attacking the Trade Unions by extending the Royal Commission into Trade Unions for another 12 months and expanding the terms of reference despite their being no requests for either.
. Cutting spending on science and innovation to the lowest levels ever recorded.
. Delaying superannuation increases for seven years costing workers thousands of dollars in retirement savings.
. Killing the Low Income Super Contribution payment and the Superannuation Guarantee which aimed to boost the retirement savings of 3.6 million workers who earn $37,000 per year or less.
. Cutting the Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement. (a payment to those who provide care for people with severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia).
. Abolishing the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority which was established to encourage organ donation.
And the list goes on and on!!
I am frightened for the Australian community’s future!
Are You?
Ray Sillett
Tuross Head
Named and shamed
Thank-you Narooma News, for naming those councillors who voted in favour of the variation of the HuntFest licence.
I will now know which councillors to be shown last on my ballot paper at the next elections.
Gail Farrell
Dalmeny
Disgraceful on HuntFest!
Pot, kettle and black spring to mind when considering ERA’s reason for existence.
According to its website, the formation of the ERA was due to “community dissatisfaction with (previous councils) attitude to the community” and “its indifference to community opinions.”
ERA’s mantra is: “we want to promote your interests in the local government of our shire.”
ERA councillors were elected to office on this premise.
So, with 81 per cent of resident and ratepayer submissions opposing the HuntFest amendments, the decision should have been a ‘slam dunk’.
The truth is, residents and ratepayers had ‘Buckleys’ chance of influencing council’s decision as we were competing against an online campaign through websites such as ‘Shooters and Fishers’ and ‘Gundeals’. Hunters from all over Australia were urged to support the amendments by sending submissions to ESC – and our councillors paid attention.
Patricia Gardiner
Deua River
Why consult on HuntFest?
Regardless of what residents of Eurobodalla Shire feel about the Narooma HuntFest, surely every one of us must be concerned that our council was able to completely ignore the wishes of over 80 per cent of residents who engaged in the "community consultation" process.
Anne Genders
Narooma
Thanks for the memories
To all the people who contacted us, called in to see us and sent cards, flowers, chocolates and wine, and even a Christmas pudding (yum) when we sold our real estate business, Tony Berry & Associates, to wish us well in our retirement…we would just like to say how very, very much we appreciated all your good wishes and kind thoughts expressed to us.
We enjoyed immensely 30 plus years in real estate in Narooma, and meeting so many people in that time, and now we feel sure we will continue to have just as much enjoyment and pleasure…with a difference in our retirement.
Once again, ‘thank you’.
Gail and John Green
Narooma
Mayor’s say… Keeping a watch on the cost of electricity
The Australian Energy Regulator released its decision on the Essential Energy draft 2014-19 Regulatory Proposal last week and I am delighted to tell you that in response to our council’s submission that we lodged along with 19 other councils and six regional organisations of councils, that the regulator has blocked the bulk of the proposed increases.
Essential Energy had originally proposed an increase in public lighting maintenance charges in 2015-2016 of 78 per cent that would have cost our Eurobodalla community $144,221.
The regulator has stated that this draft decision is one of the key steps in reaching their final decision which will be released in April 2015.
Before that, Essential Energy will have the opportunity to submit a revised proposal in response to this draft decision and stakeholders will also have the opportunity to make submissions.
Fortunately I will be able to continue to advocate on behalf of our community for fair electricity prices as last month, I successfully nominated to represent local government as one of 11 members on the Essential Energy Streetlighting Consultative Committee.
The committee’s purpose is to provide a platform for ongoing, two-way communication between Essential Energy and councils and to identify issues and opportunities relevant to streetlighting services and performance.
Our role will be to provide advice and insight into specific issues and projects related to streetlighting, including new technology and to review compliance with the Public Lighting Code and agreed variations.
We will be expected to work co-operatively to develop service standards that are efficient and minimise operating costs and street lighting tariffs.
This committee will be an important advocacy platform for regional councils and as always, I look forward to being able to represent my community on these important issues.
I hope to see some of you at the Celebrate Narooma event on Saturday to celebrate the completion of the $4.6 million transformation of the Narooma Flat.
The free event will run from 11am to 1pm and you can enjoy a barbecue, live music and lots of activities to entertain the kids. A highlight will be free Streets' Paddle Pops as a tribute to the town's link to Ted Street, the founder of the Streets' Ice-cream company.
The celebration is also a huge thank you to my fellow Narooma Streetscape Sunset Advisory Committee members: Councillor Neil Burnside, Graham Reeves of Narooma Sports and Services Club, Lyn Field of Big 4 Narooma Easts Holiday Park and Orit Karny of the Narooma Chamber of Commerce.
I will also be extending my thanks to the Roads and Maritime Service, and all Narooma residents and businesses for contributing to the project during the design phase and for being so patient during the works.
Please let me know if there is any issue you feel Eurobodalla Shire Council may be able to help you with.
You can email me at mayor@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au or phone me on 0418 279 215.
Clr Lindsay Brown
Mayor of Eurobodalla Shire