Reserve access impeded
I'm a resident of River Road, Sussex Inlet and Shoalhaven City Council has informed those residents that overlook Jacob Ellmoos Reserve, and not communicated to the larger community, that designated areas of the reserve would not be mowed by council and bollards installed around these areas to create large patches of salt marsh.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As these areas will have vegetation up to 1 metre in height this raises the concern that these will harbor vermin, which in turn will attract snakes.
Public access to such areas will be impeded by the bollards which may be a trip hazard at night without adequate lighting and exclude those with poor mobility to enjoy the reserve.
Council's reasoning behind this initiative is that salt marsh performs a pivotal role in the conservation of fish stocks, which we do not dispute.
What we do dispute is the salt marsh growing on the reserve is only on the odd occasion of king tides or heavy rain in water for a couple of days at most.
Fish cannot and do not breed on the reserve, they breed in the mangroves and weed on the river banks.
Council created the reserve with material dredged from the canal development, therefore it is man-made.
The initial development did not flood during high tide nor develop ponds after heavy rain.
During construction of the grey water pump station in the centre of the reserve trucks driving on the reserve compressed the soil which formed shallows that now collect water for a short period of time after heavy rain and king tides.
This issue was raised with council at the time but the damage was not rectified.
The reserve was intended for recreational use by the community and visitors alike which in turn adds value and growth to the town.
Many people use the path running along the river to walk, exercise their dog, jog and ride bikes and use the exercise equipment installed by council.
Not only is the reserve used for recreation, in the past it's been used as an emergency evacuation area during bush fires and landing pad for rescue helicopters.
Installing exclusion zones won't allow the full use of the reserve as the original development intended.
If any member or visitor of the community does not want this change in the management of the reserve to go ahead please sign the petition to council by visiting www.change.org/p/shoalhaven-city-council-protect-ellmoo-s-reserve-in-sussex-inlet.
L. McMahon, Sussex Inlet
Egans Lane confusion
It seems that a number of drivers are ignoring the left turn only sign when entering the Egans Lane car park. Not only by young drivers, but drivers of various ages and backgrounds.
Even when advise by several people that they are going the wrong way, they either ignore them or make some feeble excuse.
Just this morning (April 23) I observed five drivers who ignored the direction of the sign.
I have even thought about writing notes and putting them on their car, but decided not to in case of of incrimination.
To me there could be two solutions to this problem:
1: Police blitz.If a undercover police officer was I the area and fining drivers who do not observe the left turn only directive, it may educate drivers better.
2: Metal strips. Shoalhaven City Council could decide to place metal spiked strips which, if driven over the wrong way, will instantly deflate the car's tyres. If the council erects a sign that these said strips are installed, the liability would be on the drivers for any damage done to their car.
Hopefully just this letter may have some effect on drivers. If not, the possibility of one of the solutions above may cause drivers to obey the left turn only sign.
