Band aid solution
Like many residents, east of Nowra, I use Millbank quite frequently.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When is the council going to improve the road surface to a standard which will enable all traffic, including heavy trucks and machinery to use the road without the surface breaking up every time it rains?
Pot patching is just a band aid solution. The current surface is a joke, I've travelled on better country roads in the outback. Come on Shoalhaven Council, fix this important link road.
R. O'Neill, Worrigee.
Green waste dilemma
I have been shocked by some figures from a CSIRO study on coastal rubbish that indicated ‘that nine out of ten seabirds have ingested plastic’.
A quarter of all dropped plastic rubbish gets moved by water and an eighth by wind.
Councils, individuals and businesses all have a responsibility to do something to alleviate our litter problem.
Councils should provide more bins that are easily accessible to motorists. Fast food outlets could provide car bags for rubbish that now ends up on the side of highways.
Tip charges should largely be waived. We already pay for garbage in our rates, why charge us again if we do the right thing and take it directly to the tip?
‘NSW local councils spend more than $10 million removing illegally dumped rubbish each year.’
Hard to put a dollar figure on what is missed and ends up in the ocean though isn’t it? Charging for green waste taken to the tip defies all logic. Individuals obviously have a responsibility not to litter under any circumstance. Great credit should be given to the huge number of people who in fact pick up rubbish. Unfortunately few people walk the highways.
Incidentally I have even witnessed our new mayor snorkelling in the harbour retrieving rubbish.
Perhaps packaging could be minimised and be biodegradable. Public education is probably more effective than penalties.
P. Frost, Burrill Lake
Get guidance earlier
A recent Guide Dogs NSW/ACT survey has revealed one in two people waited more than two years between diagnosis and seeking the help they needed to maintain their mobility and independence.
A staggering 26 per cent waited more than 10 years before asking for assistance.
Although we understand there are many reasons why people wait, such as not realising their vision is limiting their mobility, relying on family members to get around and concerns about the stigma of vision loss. It is important that help is sought to reduce the risk of trips, falls, isolation and depression.
Vision loss is associated with double the risk of falls, three times the risk of developing depression, four to eight times more likely to have a fracture and admission to nursing homes three years earlier.
As we launch our new campaign, ‘Don’t Delay, Seek Help Today’, this International White Cane Day on October 15 I would like to ask readers to consider if they, or a friend or family member is experiencing issues with vision loss and let them know assistance is available at no cost.
Dr G.White, CEO, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
‘PLEASE EXPLAIN’ ON PETROL PRICING
The Australian Government applies an excise of 38.143 cents per litre of all petrol and diesel sold. Previously the ACCC had the task of regulating prices.
Now we have Import Parity Pricing (IPP). The IPP is based on the cost of importing crude oil. This weekend in Dapto and Albion Park prices at the pump were 129.9 cents per litre, In Wollongong, over the same period, the prices were as low as 94.9 cents per litre. As Senator Pauline would say “please explain?".