Any less could only be described as negligence.

Steve Parker

Bega

Bunnings not Bega

Talk to many Bega residents about the old Spenco historic site before council at present and you get the answer that’s where Bunnings is being built.

Does this have anything to do with the Lascorp development plans being submitted to council having Bunnings logo splashed all over them.

Why is it then, Bunnings head office for some time has denied that it has any plans of establishing an outlet there?

Bunnings also says that Lascorp does not have permission to use its name and logo to promote this development.

Who should we believe?

The Bega Shire Council heritage advisors washed their hands of this historic site.

This is possibly the earliest industrial site in Bega from the early 1800s, becoming a tannery making boots for World War One soldiers and supporting the wattlebark industry up until about the 1950s.

It’s a shame Bega cannot embrace this site for its true value - as open space heritage with the most fertile soil that is part of a real wetlands system.

This area already has the birdlife returning to it since the closing of the second hand furniture business a while back.

As part of an historic park and botanical gardens this area of land known as the old Spenco site would enhance Bega as an important town in the region, much more than very large slabs of concrete on a 280 space car park.

Lee Chittick

Bega

Inappropr iate site

Having had no insignificant professional experience as an architectural/site planning consultant to major developers, I come rather late but somewhat in amazement to the state of play with the so-called bulky goods development in Bega.

If ever the term inappropriate should be applied to a proposal this seems to tick all the boxes.

A difficult and therefore expensive site to develop, the philosophy behind bulky goods use planning concessions was to facilitate cheap warehouse style building on visually and environmentally non-significant sites, where heavy-load vehicle traffic movement was not problematic and that generation of high volume (general retail) traffic would not occur - as around primary schools and residential and the like.

How many boxes so far?

It is apparent that the particular bulky goods retailer the developer had hoped for and portrayed on the submission documents will not be coming to the party, so there now seems deception in this regard, and a long established stratagem after gaining consent is to then seek further use concessions pleading hardship, unfinished works, loss of jobs - all the old chestnuts.

Or, just go ahead and use the development illegally and blatantly and for usually low-end retail, knowing that it will probably be got away with.

Planning ideally should be a pro-active process, where competent input resolves appropriate uses for an area of land.

If such had occurred here it would be beyond comprehension that something like this would present as even vaguely a right way to go.

And so plainly a wrong.

By whatever means the current situation has arisen, it is incumbent on council to do as much unscrambling of this smelly egg as possible, to the final benefit of the people, the town, the environment - you name it.

John Peck

Bermagui

No sense in approval

Your front page story on June 23 highlights the need to keep Bega St, and the land north of it, free from heavy traffic.

It is proposed that Bega West Primary School amalgamates with Bega Primary School on Auckland Street to avoid the bypass.

Meanwhile, a big box bulky goods development is proposed for the Spenco site that will bring increased heavy traffic through the CBD and along Auckland Street and Bega Street near the river and wetlands, Mumbulla School and Bega Primary School.

The bypass is giving us the opportunity to keep heavy traffic out of the CBD.

It makes no sense for council to approve a development that is working contrary to this.

Council is in a difficult situation with this development because of the current zoning of the land.

Council staff has recommended that the developer be given a Deferred Commencement Consent with conditions that are suitably rigorous in dealing with many aspects of this inappropriate development.

Councillors will be determining the application on Tuesday, July 7 so we have just over a week to let them know what we think.

Many share my view that council needs to have a Traffic Plan in place before determining the Spenco site DA.

I also believe that the new Local Environment Plan needs to be in place before the DA is determined.

The process of approving these plans will give the council and community an opportunity to carefully consider the use of Bega Street and the land north of it.

Further consultation with the community is essential, particularly in the light of four new things that have happened since the DA was lodged for putting a big box bulky goods on the Spenco site:

• The bypass is definitely going ahead;

• Woolworths is now going ahead with a Big W in the CBD. (This means Bega retailers can be confident that shoppers will be attracted to the CBD wherever bulky goods are located);

• The proposed amalgamation of Bega West and Bega Primary Schools onto the Auckland Street St site to avoid the bypass; and

• A shared path through the wetlands and immediately adjacent to Spenco Lagoon is looking very likely with stakeholders giving solid support to the project.

If your readers are concerned about this DA I advise them to contact councillors about it before July 7.

Councillors are in a position, without the threat of litigation, to at least see that community needs are reconsidered.

Jenny Spinks

Bega

A right to free speech

The homily at Mass last Sunday was about Faith and Fear and my mind wandered to the letter from M Wall (BDN 16/6).

We elect our community representatives in good faith that they will look after us and our area’s interests.

Yet by this letter a Sister of the third order is now in fear due to her having views and an intellect that allows her to state her opinions.

We should have the faith that opinions are a person’s right to free speech, without the fear of impending litigation from those that supposedly serve us, if we speak out.

I have felt the fear of retribution by the powers that be and know a little of how Sister would be feeling.

Sister is asking for donations to fight for her rights to hold an opinion but the fear is in the cost.

Last year I was in an identical position and asked for a FOI on the cost structure.

The cost to you, the ratepayers I was told by letter on 29/8/08 was $1951.35 but I questioned this amount and the next letter on 15/9/08 came in at a cost of $5743.96, costing figures are only that not time spent or meetings held.

How many other people are silenced in this tyrannical way?

My wife is now in fear from previous circumstances that I may have a word out of context, so the next few weeks may be a worry.

Should we have to live like this in fear instead of faith?

Some suggestions to work on would be: one paper for our area so we know the news of our area, and telephone call costs within our shire eg STD charges from Eden to Bega.

I have the faith that something may happen by writing this letter but fear any repercussions if they eventuate for stating the obvious.

If good is suppressed then evil permeates.

Phil McManus

Merimbula

Kiss’ Lagoon

The sky is soft pink in the pre-dawn, a veil of gauzy mist covers the water.

The world is still and silent, only reed tips emerge, pale, ghostly.

Willows hang lazily, gazing at their reflected curtains of green in the shrouded water.

Slowly the mist lifts and the water emerges sparkling from its pallid cover, until the lagoon is a shining mirror.

Water fowl scurry in and out of the reeds, which like platoons of clumped swords, make a perfect hideout.

Domestic ducks appear preening white feathers, humorous amongst their bronzed wild brethren.

Suddenly two dogs appear, sniffing, rolling in the lush verge, barking joyfully.

Small fluffy ducklings are chased into line by mother duck, quacking anxiously.

Dogs retreat, order is restored.

Along the road, poplars stand in pairs, guarding the water like leafy sentries, creating pools of deep shade.

All is serene in the still early morning before the day’s heat climbs.

Peace reigns in this green, hidden spot, surrounded by hills and roadways, all unaware of its shining presence.

Eve Burchell

Bega

Plumbing problems

On Wednesday June 17, I phoned the Bega Valley Shire Council to get basic information about the council’s stance on general plumbing.

I was put through to someone in building services.

The conversation between this man and myself went something like: “What is the council’s regulation about plumbing in cavity walls? Does it have to be copper or is PVC ok?”

The man asked” “What are you?”

I said: “I am an owner builder” and he replied, “Well there is your answer”.

I asked: “So you are not going to help with my enquiry.”

He replied, “No”.

What we have here is a council employee refusing to answer a generic question about council regulations from a ratepayer.

And given the high rates we pay in the Bega Valley Shire relative to a lot of other urban and rural council areas, the poor condition of infra-structure and overall lack of services, I would have thought common courtesy was the minimal concession one could expect from council staff.

After I cooled down, I surmised that this council staff member’s poor public relation skills probably hide an ignorance of council’s building regulations.

The question was easy and in no way crossed trade demarcation lines or somehow asked for the council staff member to reveal a council secret.

As an owner builder I am aware a plumber has to install plumbing to satisfy council building regulations.

I am now aware one had to be a plumber to get basic information about council’s requirements with regard to plumbing.

The person I spoke with is, in my opinion, ignorant in both applications of the word.

His attitude is all too typical of many employees in public service who are so secure in the unaccountability of their position that they can bite the hand that feeds them.

My observations from my dealings with council are that where once we had local councils that provided services, now we have local government that provides government.

We get planning (what they are going to do) and management (good excuses why they do nothing) instead of good roads and other practical services.

Once the Bega Valley Shire Council might have been useful for ratepayers, now in my opinion, it is a safety net for rude and self-serving office workers.

Perhaps if more people document their negative experiences with BVSC, the CEO might take heed and implement strategies to improve the performance of some staff.

Pigs might fly too!

Kevin Wallis

Merimbula

Broadb and network

Country Labor has addressed mayors from across regional NSW about the value of the National Broadband Network in boosting regional economies.

For everyone, the value of the National Broadband Network for rural NSW is obvious.

Everyone, except country Liberal and National Party members who refuse to show their support for the project, which would see every household and business connected to a high-speed broadband network.

I ask them to put destructive politics aside and support rural NSW’s chance at building a strong future for the 21st Century.

It’s the single largest infrastructure project in Australia’s history, and one that will bring growth, productivity and jobs to rural NSW.

In fact we think this project is so important to the growth of rural NSW we are launching a campaign for communities to show their support for this important infrastructure project.

A petition is available at www.countrylabor.com.au

Country Liberal and National members need to join with Country Labor members and stand up and do what’s right for rural families - the alternative is not an option for rural families doing it tough.

Christine Robertson

Convenor of Country Labor

* Letters to the editor are most welcome.

They should be kept to no more than 300-400 words and should be typewritten or in clearly legible handwriting.

They may be edited for length or legal concerns and must contain the writer’s name, address and day time phone number for verification.

Letters can be posted, emailed or faxed to the addresses on page four and will be published at the editor’s discretion.