We should be able to say what is on our mind but the recent flier that found its way into my letterbox goes way too far.  Headed “Gash Must Go” and signed by what appears to be a fictional character is gutless and cowardly to say the least.  I am sure that the role of mayor is a difficult one and the current mayor has received criticism from me on a few occasions.  The difference is that I have the courage to put my name to my criticisms. What may come as a surprise to the author of the flier is that the mayor is human and as such will sometimes make mistakes; they don’t purposely go out of their way to make them. If the author of the “Gash Must Go” brochure wants us to take them seriously then have the guts to put your real name to the material or could it be that this is electioneering material and you don’t want to stamp this adolescent material with your name in fear of damaging your own standing. 

J. Horton, Kangaroo Valley

Mayor Jo Gash is quoted as saying, I can look at myself in the mirror and know I don`t lie.

Sorry Jo but the purpose of a mirror is to reflect back what is being viewed. Our beloved CBD is looking old and tired and really, may need a fresh set of eyes to look at the problem and construct a solution. All well and good to have the best intentions but at the end of the day is there the enthusiasm and energy to commit to engage in a planning process that could result in revigoration of the CBD precinct.

Your efforts to date have been honourable and really all said and done the decision will be up to you to again run. You say that your motivation has been the bullying campaign against you and to that I say the only reason you should run is if you think you are the best person for the job and you have the required energy to succeed. The attack on you at the moment is pure politics and you know that so please leave off playing the victim here and honestly answer to yourself the questions I raised in the above. All the best if you still decide to run.

Last week G. Nosworthy made public a series of accusations about Mayor Gash, her team and the council she has dominated for the last four years (SCR July 8). Some of the claims I believe to be true, but the one about traffic jams in North Nowra is mostly false.

In mid-2012, then Mayoral candidate, Joanna Gash, attended a meeting at West Cambewarra Road, the most northerly of the three proposed Link Road sites with a member of the Greens. That member was me. That is the only part of the account that has a modicum of truth. The meeting was held at the request of Mrs Gash in order that she could gain information about the biodiversity issues of the Bomaderry Bushland. 

In December 2012 the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (not the government) approved the West Cambewarra parallel route for construction of the North Nowra Link Road, subject to certain conditions prior to final approvals.

Six of the seven members of the community who made presentations supported the West Cambewarra Road option. The new Council made the right decision to change its preferred option given that many candidates went to the people in September 2012 supporting the West Cambewarra Road option, with those of that view constituting the largest number of councillors elected. The solution to the daily Illaroo Road and Princes Highway traffic problem was then, and still is, the development of a modern new bridge for road and rail which includes overpasses on both sides of the river to eliminate the problematic traffic lights.

In calling the Mayor to account about her performance over the past four years let’s stick to the facts please.