During the battle for the bum tree, the mayor and her supporting councillors were lobbied on numerous occasions by community groups and individuals to reduce this speed limit to 80km/h. This would have allowed the bum tree and the other cherished old growth blackbutts to be saved. The five endangered glider possums and their successive generations would still have a home.

A reduction of the speed limit would have complied with the Ausroad guidelines. These were non-compulsory guidelines council staff and the mayor doggedly insisted upon in their argument to condemn the old growth trees.

For those who may have forgotten some of the details of this woeful saga, here is a brief snapshot:

The improvements to Gerroa Road were funded by the federal government’s Black Spot program. One of the fundamental conditions for this funding is the undertaking of “widespread community consultation and participation“. This did not happen.

The decision to clear was made solely by the director of Assets and Works. Councillors were only required to award the tender. Environmental factors did not feature in council’s deliberations.

The mayor claimed Roads and Maritime Services, asked council to remove the trees. She later retracted this statement when an RMS representative publicly contradicted it and confirmed that the modifications were totally designed by council.

Both the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Office of Environment (OEH) had concerns about the tree removal. OEH opposed the clearing of the old growth trees and suggested a reduction in speed limits. NPWS were dissatisfied with the lack of consultation by council and the loss of canopy connectivity.

The good thing is that the speed limit is now appropriate for the intersection and the road will be safer. Sadly, the great blackbutt trees that stood at that place for over 400 years are gone forever. We must all ensure this lack of proper process and hubris will never be allowed to destroy such valuable natural assets again.

The weeks after my boating accident on the Shoalhaven River at Nowra in January this year were perplexing and sleepless.I’d lost almost everything I owned, loved and valued. I couldn’t  understand how the boat could burst into flames from bow to stern so instantaneously without a hint of a problem.

Some time latter the insurance assessor revealed my yacht had clipped unseen overhead power lines at the exact point where the fire first started.

Had I been leaning on the back stay of my yacht as I normally did, instead of leaning forward to navigate the currents and objects and markers in the river, I would have died.

Returning to where it all happened, what irks me is the fact the power lines are extremely poorly marked where they hang over the river at Pig Island. Boats navigate through fog and rain these days with GPS chart plotters, AIS radar, depth sounders and Google maps. Yachts larger than mine are able to navigate right up to Nowra Bridge, not to mention helicopters and para-gliders, yet there are no fluoro marker balls on the power lines. I’ve seen wires crossing dirt tracks and work sites better marked.

I’m curious at to whether anyone can remember something like this happening before and if anyone recalls the power going down at after 10am on Tuesday, January 6 as that may have disrupted business and may convince the power company they need to this problem. It can happen again and someone may get killed.