Cheated by poor council process

For me, it was first the Berry bypass, then coal seam gas, then the Gerroa Road trees and now Orion Beach foreshore. My comments on all of these issues and my submissions (on three of these issues) have centred on the environment. I feel I have a responsibility to try to protect our habitat and habitat that is home to native animals.

It is not without a lot of prior thought that I wage discussion on these topics which affect me, my home and theirs. On two of these issues, I feel cheated: the Gerroa Road trees and the Orion Beach foreshore. 

I feel cheated because the process has been unfair. I feel cheated that community submissions were not allowed about the clearing of Gerroa Road trees, I feel cheated that Shoalhaven City Council appears to vote en bloc under a “team” banner when these people state they are “independents”. 

I feel cheated that the majority of community submissions were against a concrete pathway at Orion Beach yet the majority of council decided to ignore this fact when voting. 

I feel cheated that the Vincentia Residents and Ratepayers Association is not representing the cross-section of views in Vincentia. And I feel cheated that an option to preserve the natural forest at Orion Beach and have a disability and environmentally friendly track and elevated boardwalk has never been properly studied (it was a desktop study by council). 

I understand it is never possible to please everyone but at least make the process fair to all concerned. It’s too late for the habitat at Gerroa Road but this council still has an opportunity to give all options at Orion Beach a fair go.

 A. Wright-Hands,

Berry.