Hard to keep a safe distance
The footpath around the bay is so crowded now, it is hard to socially distance with the plants that overgrow the pathway. It could just do with a trim for those shrubs that have been busy growing over the footpath space, particularly along the Collingwood Beach section.
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M. and P. Cooper, Huskisson
Clearing moratorium is necessary
In response to A. Cooke's long letter in last Friday's SCR, I totally agree that Manyana does matter and it matters for its environment, its wildlife and for the people who call this village home. The reason for trying to stop the Manyana Beach Estate development is that this is a large area of unburned bushland surrounded by incinerated bushland. It is the last haven for the wildlife which survived the devastating bushfires. Taking a drive down the South Coast it is evident how little unburned bushland remains. We need to protect our wildlife species and biodiversity. Until the surrounding bushland recovers which, according to experts, could take between three and five years, there should be an immediate moratorium on all land clearing for whatever reason. Humans are not the only species to inhabit this land. We need to live together with our wildlife, not obliterate it for our own purposes.
I also strongly doubt that building 180 new homes will see 180 new families move into the region. Currently the permanent occupancy of Manyana sits at around 30 per cent. So one would therefore surmise that a new housing estate of 180 new homes will likely only see around 54 new families moving into the area and the remainder will be bought as holiday homes.
Another reason for protecting this piece of bushland is for the current residents of Manyana, several of them whom are in the RFS and risked their lives fighting to save this piece of bushland during the fires. They are already suffering mentally from the fires, and to see this remaining pocket of bushland about to be destroyed only increases their anguish. At the moment they are living in what still looks like a war zone. There has not been a lot of regrowth owing to how hot the fires were. They need this block to be protected for their own mental health.
Let's have some compassion for local residents and for the wildlife which also inhabits our beautiful land. There is not much unburned bush left in the Shoalhaven. Up to 85 per cent of our bushland was incinerated and we must protect every last piece that is still intact.
L. Imhof, North Nowra
Coordination can save money
In the past, I have written about the waste of ratepayers' money by Shoalhaven City Council (SCC).
Let's look at The Wool Road at Worrowing Heights. Not so long ago, that section of road was widened. This was carried out, I am informed, by Lendlease at the request of, and paid for, by Coastal Waters. Why SCC didn't work in conjunction with that project to complete the work at the same time is a mystery.
Fast-forward a few months and we see SCC digging up and replacing this same damaged road. Once again this could have all been corrected if the work was carried out at the time of the first project and would have saved rate payers money. The cherry on the top of this lopsided, and short-sighted cake, comes when you inspect, or drive over, the work done. SCC in its wisdom, has left roughly 30 metres of the same road, towards the top of the hill, in disrepair.
As a ratepayer, I would like someone on council to explain why, when the equipment and staff were already on site it wouldn't have been more economical to finish the repairs on that complete section of road and then move on to the next project. Some time in the future, to complete the task, SCC will bring in staff and equipment and waste ratepayers' money. It doesn't make sense and can only come down to poor management of resources and ratepayers' money.