SO Phil Balding is frustrated with Shoalhaven City Council (‘Foundation secretary fears Shaolin is losing patience’ August 20).
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He is not the only one. My husband and I are paying more rates each year despite a drop in land value over the same period to a council constantly complaining about having no money who although having “sold” the Comberton Grange property have only apparently received a paltry deposit, waived interest payments on the principal and presumably received no rates at all from the new owner.
Unlike Mr Balding I am glad that some individuals and groups spend their own time and effort attempting to ensure that we do not end up like the Chinese, whose own country is one of the most overpopulated, polluted and environmentally degraded in the world. I am glad that things don’t happen here like they do in China.
Mr Balding should also not reject 11 community representatives out of a population of 30,000 as this is roughly 2727 people per representative compared to an average 156,667 Australians per House of Representative member in the federal parliament, for example, which brings me to Ann Sudmalis and her assertions as to the nature of people opposed to this development (‘Shaolin opponents hold region back’, August 20).
I am neither narrow minded nor disregarding of the local economy and find it offensive that an elected member who is supposed to represent all constituents makes accusations as to the nature of people in the community. It is the same as suggesting that all politicians only see growth in bricks and cement and what can be achieved for developers.
I would like to see sustainable growth based on the beauty and nature in the Shoalhaven as that is what we have to offer. The council by now could have built its own ecotourism centre on the same site.
If Currambene Creek and Jervis Bay are ruined then that will outweigh any dubious economic benefit of the proposed development.
I say, “Go, Kiama, it is all yours.”
R. Roper,
Woollamia.