Wallaga Bridge fishing done for years
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I was surprised to read in Narooma News Police Report of December 31 that “Police issued a fine to a 63 year old Earlwood man at 8.45am last Wednesday (Christmas Eve) for fishing off the Wallaga Lake Bridge”. There has been a sign forbidding fishing from that bridge for all of my 69 years, and, I think, a whole lot longer. Clearly the man was in breach of the law.
However, fishers have been fishing there with impunity despite the signs, and were three deep along the rails at times in the 1950’s.
I think many of us thought this situation was peculiar, but I am unaware of its having caused a major problem for users of the bridge and the authorities seemed to turn a blind eye.
It has been a fascinating and amusing little feature of our area.
Has there been a sudden change of policy?
I so, were the public forewarned? I shall be concerned if the man who was fined suffered that imposition without a prior warning.
That would seem to me to be quite unjust and unreasonable.
If there has been no change in policy, has this fine been imposed by someone unfamiliar with past practice, or simply someone a bit overzealous?
Laws should be obeyed, but if they have been ignored for generations, and contrary to past practice, are about to be policed, then a warning of policy change is surely warranted.
Can anyone shed any more light on this matter?
Harry Bate
Tilba Tilba
Take up sea level with State Government
The local newspapers are still receiving and publishing letters and posts on the blogs about climate change and the associated sea level rise matters fairly regularly.
Some of the allegations about sea level rise or predicted rises and claimed impacts on the local economy in relation to property prices would be almost impossible to prove in a court, in my view, however if there are people in the shire who believe property valuations have been reduced because of the sea level rise discussion that went on before the shire council resolved on a policy and policy direction supported by the State Government Office of Environment and Heritage as well as the relevant Minster in charge of that portfolio, they should take it up with the State Government who are advised by the IPCC, Independent Panel for Climate Change.
It’s the state government who makes the rules we in New South Wales have to abide by like it or not.
Politicians and bureaucracy are covering their back sides with it.
Allan Brown
Batemans Bay
Special Rate Variation - Have your say now!
This gives ratepayers and residents another chance to become familiar with the cases for and against the SRV and to lodge a submission to Council in writing by mail, personal delivery or email by the close off date Friday, January 23.
The Tuross Head Progress Association's executive, contrary to possibly politically motivated rumours, maintains that the Association has been and will remain neutral on the SRV, in the belief that it is a matter for individual ratepayers and residents to decide in line with their own views and financial positions.
The executive did facilitate a drop-in session in Tuross Head in late November to permit face to face discussion with the "top brass" and it was well attended.
From council, the mayor, three councillors, the general manager, the director of infrastructure services and the director of finance and business development were there and, thanks to this opportunity, many residents went away better informed ...if not convinced!
The important thing now, if you care, is to make a submission. Remember that if there is a vast "silent" majority council may tend to consider this to be a sign of approval!
Gary Cooper
President Tuross Head Progress Association
Cutting Dalmeny Campground
AT the direction of the Eurobodalla Shire Council, the managers of the Dalmeny campground are implementing a 25 per cent reduction in the number of camp sites available from the end of this tourist season.
Visitors who have been holidaying at the campground for up to 40 years have been refused forward bookings. Traders who rely heavily on this tourist trade were not consulted.
If the campground has operated as a 130 site facility instead of a 100 site facility for the past 20 years or so, council has illegally collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra revenue over that period.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to invest some of that windfall profit into making the campground compliant rather than punishing the tourists ( many of whom will not come back to the Eurobodalla ), and the traders who are the backbone of this community.
To his credit, the mayor was quick to respond when I bought this matter to his attention. He has moved to have the operators accept forward bookings from displaced campers, and has told me that he “will be working with staff and industry regulators to facilitate an outcome that hopefully satisfies all”.
I do not doubt the mayor’s resolve to find the right solution to this problem, but I have strong doubts about his ability to influence a decision that has been made by the bureaucrats who appear to run this shire.
This is his chance to show us that he is in control, and the “cuddle a tourist” message in his last newsletter, was more than just words.
Ian Hitchcock
Dalmeny
Surf rescue thanks
A big thank you to all the members of surf patrol C for the calm and collected way they handled a potential drowning incident on Sunday at Narooma Surf Beach.
A special mention must go to John 'Hasselhoff' Carruthers and Macca 'Anderson' McCaughtrie for their excellent board and tube rescue techniques.
It was a dramatic patrol for first timers Karl Smith and Cyann Vlatkovic.
Well done all!
Pip Thorn, patrol captain
Narooma
Women wanted?
Last week’s (NN 7 Jan) heading “Men’s Shed want women for garage sale” is certainly open to misinterpretation. If taken literally, I shudder to think of the problems inherent in arriving at an equitable pricing system that does not offend the sensibilities of the ladies concerned. Perhaps “live weight” is the only answer?
Richard Tilzey
Central Tilba