Whether or not Eurobodalla Shire Council's boundaries ought to be altered, and in what direction, are questions that should be examined thoroughly and unemotionally from time to time.

Recommendations should identify opportunities to improve the cost and efficiency of the Shire’s administration, but they should also recognise progress in surrounding districts and embrace the advantages of participating more prosperously in our fantastic region.

In Queanbeyan on Monday the ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr observed "There are few other places in Australia, or indeed the world, where you can spend the morning skiing in the mountains and dine on oysters by the ocean in the evening.”

He was launching the Canberra Region brand, in cooperation with twelve participating councils, to strengthen our region's profile and make it more attractive as a hub for tourism and economic investment.

Mr Barr pointed out that, working together, the Canberra Region will have a stronger voice to promote its wares nationally and internationally. That will influence investment in infrastructure. More efficient road and air transport will be vital.

Eurobodalla’s opportunities and administration cannot be prepared for the future by inflexible minds confined by old boundaries.

When Eurobodalla's governing body shows no interest in suggestions from young and old residents, who speak freely when meetings are not controlled by council, the governing body identifies itself as the shire’s most acute problem.

Don Burns

Canberra

Hitting back at my critics

I write again regarding my increasing collection of critics, three of whom appeared in these pages last week.

In regard to Neil Ferguson's comments concerning the council's level of service proffered to him, I have already apologised on the council's behalf. It was a simple mistake.

His reference to our staffing level is, however, completely spurious. We compare more than favourably to all our peers within the group four of Councils and with our near neighbour, Bega, where their numbers appear low until you find that theirs don't include their 140 odd water and sewer staff. Our performance is actually better than Bega's.

Ian Hitchcock rattles off the usual mantra he and his Batemans Bay mates are infamous for.

His chameleon like qualities allow him to appear as the Secretary of the 'Eurobodalla Business Group' one day (we still don't know the names of the executive of this 'group'), then an (unappointed) 'advisor' to the remaining ERA Councillors, later still 'a concerned citizen for Council amalgamation' and, of course, a climate sceptic (that's a common theme) without ever subjecting himself to an election for anything.

While not playing any role in the council election, he now claims some sort of 'Guru' status with the remaining ERA Councillors with his sage views.

The only thing he doesn't claim is membership of the Batemans Bay Liberal Party Branch, a shadowy group of right-wingers bent on punishing the council for not slavishly following their agenda.

Those turning up in the Bay 10 days ago, thinking they were there to discuss the loopy idea of incorporating the Bay into Shoalhaven Council, soon found that this was just a premise to get them along for another round of council bashing -- all the 'usual suspects' were there --  something we successfully predicted in the media the day before.

The meeting also coincided with a Bega State Liberal Party Electoral Council meeting.

The Mayor of Bega, a bemused onlooker and a supporter of Constance's, described the meeting as just the usual council bashing. He'd heard it all before.

And finally, to Neil Mumme -- yes Neil fair cop -- mea culpa --(my wife said you'd write) but I was elected to reform the council, not to destroy it, and that's just what a lot of these shadowy, unelected behind the scenes figures are looking for.

More reform is necessary, but most of the criticism levelled recently is outdated or anecdotal with no supporting evidence,

Clr Neil Burnside

Narooma

Growers market on break

The Bermagui Fishermen's Wharf Growers Market will be closed until August while our producers take a break and stock up again.

It has been decided after consulting with our stallholders and when we get up and running we will do so on a weekly basis.

In the meantime and during the break, I will attempt to get a working group or a group of volunteers together to keep this market going.

The volunteers would be committed to take a turn once a month to assist on market day and for their effort will be given a dollar value, between $30 and $50, in food vouchers to be used at the Growers Market.

We need some new ideas and perhaps even youth, to push this market to another level.

I cannot and do not wish to run this market on my own every week so it is up to the Bermagui community to decide if they would like to continue having this lovely market.

It has been such a pleasure to head down every fortnight and set up and work the market. Such a lovely ambience and I hope above all hope, we can keep this Growers Marker going bigger and better by going weekly.

Thank you to all my lovely stallholders and of course our loyal customers.

Thank you to Christine and Geoffrey Poulton, Christine Bimson, Karen, Sue at Bermagui Fishermen's Wharf, Julie Rutherford and anyone else that has chipped in to assist.

We will see you all again, with bells on, in August.

Lynne Ford

Market Co-Ordinator

Bermagui

Attitudes to drugs shifting

It appears that the people in our communities are shifting their attitudes towards accepting that illicit drugs will be part of our childrens and grandchildrens lives and available to our young and vulnearable from our streets.

I have herd number of times the expression that "War on drugs does not work".

True statement in many ways, however, you can't fight an war without having adequate army to do so and at no stage has australia had an adequate army to fight the war on drugs on all fronts.

I still take the view if there is no supply of drugs on our streets or supply is reduced to bare minimum then outcome of that implemented policy must be reduced number users of these products.

End results of long term illicit drug use by our population is in magnitude of 8 in Richter scale in harm to physical and mental health. Long term brain damage is common for the users and it is a huge cost to community in health services and addmissions to hospital emergency and to our physiatric wards. Loss of productivity and heart ache to thousands of families affected by drugs.

It is often stated by the drug users that bikie gangs are the major sources for illicit drugs in our streets, if that is true why is it that our law enforcement is not aware of it? Or is it the fact that our police is under resourced in that area in all materiel.

I believe that there needs to be conserted effort by our communities to rid our shores from drug financiers, manufactures, importers and resale dealers, we as community need to take an ownership of the problem and do something about it rather than say it is too hard.

There needs to be lot more community discussion of the drug problems all around the South Coast coastal towns, we owe it to our young people that they are growing up in drug free environment while at school or out in a community without being fronted by drug pushers.

We need constant education on drugs and their harm in our shcools and in community starting at home, there are no safe drugs, don't forget sigle pill can take your life or your friends life.

Our police is expected to play by rules in catching drug lords, I ask what rules does the drug lords play in when they offer your 10 year old drugs.

We need much more robust allowences for our police to execute their duties in drug detection and arresting those responsible all the way up the supply chain.

We need our governments appropriatetly resource our police forces, fund rehabilitiation centres and participate in ridding communities of drug pusher on all levels, all this needs to start now time is of essence. All drug dealers, financiers, manufactures and importing individuals or groups need to be harsly dealt by the courts where all their ill gained possession are confiscated by the Crown and these funds used to fund rehab cenntres, criminals need to learn by hard labor within our prision system.

Mark Ikonen

Dalmeny

Mayor’s say… Building a better future

I am updating this column now at the last minute on Tuesday morning as we have just been advised that our application for a special rate variation has been approved and I want to share my thoughts on this news with you.

I am very pleased with the news and also proud to have been part of the group that made the hard decision to apply for a 6.5 per cent rate increase.

I am proud because it will support growth and provide much needed facilities that will improve the way of life for many in our community, and it will also ensure that future generations are not left with an unmanageable debt. 

Eurobodalla rate payers have not seen a rate rise above the annual rate cap for eight years.

Our 6.5 per cent increase will see the average residential general rate which in 2014-2015 was $817.82 a year, rise by $1. 86 a week in 2015-16.

Without the rate variation this would have been $1.22 in the same year. This means the rate increase, based on Eurobodalla’s average residential rate, will see our ratepayers paying 64 cents more a week.

I acknowledge that the average residential rate is only a guide as many of us pay higher rates, and many pay less, so more importantly, let’s look at what residents will get for their new investment.

The new income will support social and economic growth by delivering a package of community and transport infrastructure projects worth around $20.7 million over the next four years. 

We will see approximately $3.1 million spent on upgrades and new infrastructure to sportsgrounds, local reserves and parks.

$560,000 will go to improving local community halls. $50,000 of additional recurrent funding will be spent on new pathways.

$300,000 will be spent to upgrade Corrigans Beach Reserve Batehaven, Gundary Oval Moruya and Rotary Park Narooma so that everyone in our community can enjoy playgrounds with new special accessibility elements.

The package will support the economy and tourism by delivering a $1.25 million upgrade to the Batemans Bay CBD, a $270,000 upgrade to the Moruya Airport, $350,000 for the accessible toilets across Eurobodalla, and $300,000 for accessible viewing platforms and walks to improve visitor experiences and beach ace.

Our transport infrastructure will be improved through a $1.0 million project to renew Caseys Beach Rock wall and approximately $5.9 million for the reconstruction and sealing of a number of high traffic gravel roads and upgrading of bridges and culverts.

Today’s news is good news for Eurobodalla. It is not so much about how it impacts us today, as how it will build a better, stronger future in a financially responsible way. It is about our current ratepayers not passing on an unnecessary debt to future generations. 

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

Boat ramp blunder

‘Eurobodalla Shire Council’, a title that strikes fear into the heart of local tourism operators, has again mishandled a local project.

Local and visiting fishers are currently enjoying the second half of this year's kingfish season, and are preparing for the start of the annual tuna run.

This fishing activity generate considerable income to the Narooma community both directly through tackle shops, accommodation, marine suppliers, hotels, fuel outlets, restaurants, etc, etc, and indirectly to every other business in town.

Given the financial benefit from offshore fishing, Council thought it would be the right time of year to rip up the only boat ramp in town suitable for visiting offshore fishing boats.

This simply means that visiting offshore fishers will now be going to Bermagui and spending their money there.

When our local councillors Brown and Burnside were made aware of this situation they both said that this couldn’t be right, but they were not able to change the works from going ahead, instead they celebrated on Page 3 of the Narooma News with the comment that ‘the local boating community have helped us plan the upgrade’ - an interesting spin on the truth!

Our councillors now want us to pay more rates in the future, despite spending money poorly in the present.

Private enterprise would not close an income generating activity, so why did our local council?

If an executive in the private sector did this they would be disciplined or sacked, but it seems to be OK to waste Local Government money when you are an elected representative or Council employee.

John Moore

Kianga

Many thanks after fall

I would like to thank the kind gentleman, Peter Elliot, who came to my assistance when I recently had a fall out the front of the Narooma Post Office.

Peter's compassion and good humour alleviated a very stressful situation.

He stayed with me until the ambulance took me to hospital.

Thanks also to David Creed for contacting my family and lending his assistance.

There was also a kind lady who also came to my aid.  I did not get her name but I would like to thank her also.

My sincere appreciation to them all!

Helen Vass

Narooma