Unstable proposal
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As a reasonably long-time resident of Tathra, having had a home here from 1977 and living permanently since 1987, I wish to express my opinion in regard to the proposed reconstruction the ring road to the Tathra Wharf.
For the past 26 years I have been walking this track at least twice weekly and have kept it trimmed and cleared, as I have done and do with the walking track from Tathra Headland to Kianinny Bay, which originally took me about 17 months to clear in 1987/88.
My concern is the instability of the cliff face.
A recent discussion on the viewing platform with an engineer confirmed my opinion that the cliff is very unstable and would be difficult, if not impossible, to stabilise.
There have been at least two occasions, if not three, since the original washout by an ocean surge early in the 1970s, that the road has been washed out by further ocean surges and this will no doubt happen again.
On three occasions, to my knowledge, parts of the cliff face near the viewing platform have collapsed.
I believe this has been the result of very heavy rainfall that was recorded as follows:
2010, February: Rainfall 419.50mm (16.78 inches);
2011, March: 163mm (6.50 inches);
2012, March: 388mm (15.25 inches).
It is obvious that the saturated shale cliff could not support the weight of this excess water.
It needed several attempts, with a shovel and rake, and manhandling off the many rocks, to clear the track.
In my opinion, the proposed $150,000 to be spent on a ring road feasibility study would be put to better use on the construction of a cement and/or bitumen pathway, although a deep, washed out section may need an elevated wooden crossing.
The NSW coastal walking track, from Tathra Headland to Kianinny Bay, is very popular with both locals and holiday-makers and is used regularly by dozens of people most days.
Jerry Johnson
Tathra
Counting chickens
Mike Kelly and Kevin Rudd are ignoring what their mums, for sure, would have told them as youngsters.
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched!
Whether Mike Kelly becomes Minister for Defence or not depends upon:
- whether the Labor Party wins both Eden-Monaro and the federal election;
- whether the Labor Caucus elects Mike Kelly to the new ministry (or is Kevin Rudd already jettisoning the rules Caucus approved just a few days ago, on July 22 at Balmain?)
There are several words to describe what Mike Kelly and Kevin Rudd are up to with this naked political ploy to shore up Eden-Monaro by anointing Mike Kelly Minister for Defence.
Two that come to mind are hubris and arrogance.
Jon Gaul
Tura Beach
Liberal Party member
Part of the mix
Missing from the concerns expressed about proposed changes to rules on burning native forest biomass for electricity generation (BDN, 26/7) was the term “sustainable”.
It was back in 2009 that former NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald wrote to Dr Mike Kelly acknowledging that the major problem in native forests, extensive canopy die-back, is a consequence of increased soil acidity and aluminium availability.
Bell-Miner Associated Dieback (BMAD) in “moist” eucalyptus forests was listed as a Key Threatening Process in 2008.
However, despite community concerns being highlighted in the “issues report”, the recent Review of Environmental Factors for the Dignams Creek highway realignment confirms there is little interest in acknowledging this KTP.
Rather the RMS and NPWS have seemingly agreed BMAD will spread as a consequence of the development, but have worked out “biodiversity credits” as if BMAD won't spread.
While ignored in NSW, studies undertaken in America by the US Forest Service found that the death of trees due to the exotic emerald ash borer was associated with an increase in human deaths from heart and lower respiratory disease.
Whether they be in national park, state forest or on private land, forests provide critical services to our community, like water, that are difficult and expensive to source from elsewhere.
As forests decline, indicator species, like koalas, are pushed to extinction.
Sustainable management should improve forest biodiversity, productivity and ecological processes, while getting the best value from forest products.
Consequently the adoption of appropriate technology to burn biomass for energy has to part of the mix.
Robert Bertram
Bermagui