Both individuals and organisations always seem happy to help. I thank the following organisations/groups for their assistance in helping my daughter attend the University of Tasmania over the last school holidays, to participate in an introductory uni course: The Nature Coast Marine Group; Narooma Rotary; and Narooma High School (with support from Club Narooma).

Without their assistance, she would not have been able to attend this invaluable educational event.

We support Eurobodalla Shire Council’s infrastructure director Warren Sharpe and the Fairfax Media Fix It Now campaign for the Princes Highway.

As an integral part of the community, through school bus services, tours to Sydney and Canberra, and charter work for schools and businesses, we believe the allocation of funds, planning and work on the highway must be prioritised.

Marshall’s was forced to replace our 13.5 metre coach as we face significant restrictions due to the limitations of road infrastructure. Whilst we are allowed to travel on North Head Drive, Moruya, we are unable to turn left on to the bridge which restricts our ability to access residents and businesses. To ensure we provide a high-quality service, we are purchasing a purpose-built tour coach. If infrastructure was fit for purpose we would not have to do this.

The Narooma Bridge, when travelling south, is a significant issue. We must radio ahead to any heavy vehicles travelling north to traverse the bridge. If unsuccessful, the driver must hope not to come across another vehicle near the corner and that motorists are not distracted by the view and keep a large enough gap. If the coach has to stop for traffic heading north there is significant risk of an accident. The Mogo Bridge is very narrow and its angle makes access difficult. When two heavy vehicles approach from either end, drivers feel “they need to breath in to become skinnier”.

Schools routinely request charters; cost and risk assessments are high priority. They typically request day trips to Sydney to keep costs down –  almost 10 hours in the coach, compared to a trip from Canberra to Sydney on the dual carriageway (3.5 hours one way). Marshalls and other businesses which rely on heavy vehicle traffic continually face risk in drivers running out of hours, particularly if there is an accident and the Princes Highway is closed.

For the safety of our passengers and drivers and to facilitate a potential boom in local business as Sydney becomes a more accessible market, we welcome and encourage all funding, planning and improvements to the highway. Fix It Now and enable a safe and prosperous future.

We need all tiers of government to look at how the whole of our region could be opened up for a better, more prosperous future for us residents and to "fill in" the missing links in the national map that lead to the impression we are the "forgotten corner".

There's more to it than simply throwing more money at the highway itself. Proper consideration must be given to how best to provide access to, through and from the whole area for people, goods and services.

A good plan would determine the best access points and routes for all road, rail, sea and air transport, for water and gas pipelines, for electric power-lines - reserving corridors as part of the process - and whatever else is necessary to attract and service the people and industry needed for the betterment of our society and the local, state and national economy. 

Why isn't such a strategic analysis and plan being contemplated?