Widower evicted
After reading the letter from N. Warren (Van Owners Treated Badly, March 25), I felt compelled to write about a situation at Tomerong at the Jerberra Estate.
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A personal friend of mine received a letter from this shameful council a few days before Christmas 2019 saying he had to vacate his home. This man's wife passed away around the middle of last year. This man has been paying rates on his property since the 1980s
He also received a further letter and to add insult to injury they billed him $450 for the letter.
My friend has told me of people standing out on the road taking pictures of his property. He is in his 70s now.
I believe another two residents in the estate have also received letters from council with similar requests.
How these councillors sleep at night has me beat. This man has approached several areas for help, but appears to be fighting a losing battle.
Is there anyone out there that may be able to help him?
R. Pearson, Basin View
Rate cut will cost jobs
It was with horror I watched council decide to reduce rates to the tune of $20 million. That means council will get $20 million dollars less to pay their staff, to run our services.
They employ over 1100 people. There are enough unemployed people without adding to that. Our governments should be striving to keep us employed. If people have lost their job and can't pay their rates then council can increase the assistance they give them - make the rates $1 per month for these people.
But as it stands I wonder exactly who is going to benefit from this novel approach. The Shoalhaven has approximately 52,000 private dwellings. Over 13,000 of these were unoccupied at the last census - most likely second homes and property developers, and nearly 10,000 were rented. That is, 40 per cent of dwellings are second homes or businesses - do we really want our reduced services in order to subsidise property developers and Airbnb?
My questions for council are: who exactly benefits from this on-the-run decision? How many staff will lose their jobs? What services will be reduced?
P. Davidson, Huskisson
Keep visitors away
With Easter fast approaching and schools closing down or going on holidays, we don't want to see a repeat of what happened in the Shoalhaven during our recent bushfires. Please encourage visitors to stay at home.
Everyone's health depends on it. The Shoalhaven is home to many older people. Shoalhaven council, take the initiative and close our borders.
J. Sewell, Vincentia
Qantas bailout misfires
Qantas was given $719m by the federal government to help it through this health emergency. A week or so later it laid off over 20,000 staff! What was all this money for if not to help keep staff employed and paid? This money could have helped many smaller manufacturers and perhaps employ additional staff. The government needs to look at what businesses it is supporting with public money and hold them accountable to keep staff employed, where possible.
D. Hanlon, Vincentia
We will prevail
As I drove past the queue of souls outside the local Centrelink office I was reminded of the battle we are in against the coronavirus. In taking the desperate measures of closing down many of our lifestyle establishments the government indicated the commitment it was making in attacking the virus. The latest generation is experiencing pain and disruption never seen before as they are asked to absorb and endure. As a nation, we will prevail. God bless all!