This section is at near the heads of the Shoalhaven River and is on one of the most used areas of the beach. 

I believe I and your community need to know what the politicians want for Shoalhaven. Do they want it to be a tourist destination or a wildlife sanctuary? They are mutually exclusive.

I am an enthusiastic, regular visitor to Berry and Seven Mile Beach. I bring with me my polo ponies as the beach is a great place to get them fit and is also a very pleasurable ride. The horses stay at the showground and enjoy the attention from campers, locals and those we meet as we ride on the beach.  It reminds us of our heritage - it is said the first horse race in Australia was on Seven Mile Beach.

I recall caravan parks and all forms of leisure on Seven Mile Beach back in the late 1950s, well before national parks existed. Once people have have settled an area humans tend to dominate.

The effect of the regulations relating to the shorebirds is that the beach is cut in half. And for nothing. As it is 200 yards from a caravan park. suggesting that ultimately the birds will move on and population will dominate.

This is a classic example of  unbalanced green influence denying pleasure for the population for very doubtful benefit. There is a lack of balance and come the bypass Berry will suffer. I urge business owners in Berry and Shoalhaven to write to Gareth Ward in order to have this decision reevaluated. 

What a disgrace the visit of the Prime Minister to the Shoalhaven and the way it was handled that he was hidden from the voters of Gilmore by the born-to-rule old guard of the Gilmore Liberal Party.

The PM could have visited Jelly Bean Park, had a pie or a devon sandwich and been told by the voters the real problems in Gilmore instead of being ushered in the back door of the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre for the fundraiser for Ann Sudmalis at $100 a head by secret invitation.

No invite was needed at Jelly Bean Park, for the PM to meet the people of Gilmore instead of a bad secret meeting that went pear-shaped. Maybe next time Ann Sudmalis could organise for the SAS to come with the PM to the Shoalhaven.

Recently, Ann Sudmalis posted photos on Facebook of herself and two others supporting the Black Dog Ride, stating it will help raise awareness for depression and suicide prevention.

If you are all for supporting mental health, why not support same sex marriage, Ann?

What does marriage equality have to do with mental health one may wonder. LGBTI people have the poorest mental health of any group in Australia, and are twice as likely to experience a very high level of psychological distress than heterosexual Australians. LGBTI people also have the highest rates of suicide in Australia. Same sex attracted Australians have up to 14 times higher rates of suicide attempts than heterosexual Australians. (Source: Beyondblue, LGBTI People Mental Health & Suicide, 2013.)

The elevated risk of suicidality among LGBTI people is not due to sex or gender identity in and of themselves, but rather due to discrimination and exclusion as key determinants of health. If you really did care about mental health in our society, surely you would support equality for all Australians, especially those who evidently suffer the most. If not now Ann, when?