Utopia’s many faces
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I was interested (as opposed to uninterested) in your Brogo correspondent (BDN, 24/1), where as a visitor to Bermagui, he wishes to hinge his support on the Woolworths development there purely on the fact he was unable to buy bread and milk at 6.15pm.
The BVSRRA has never taken a position for or against this development, as in our view the residents and close surrounds of Bermagui are the only ones to decide what they want in their town.
The dreams of some see another Gold Coast, while others want their pleasant locality to remain as is.
So, not Bega, nor Merimbula, nor Eden, nor any of the other towns and villages in the shire need a say, except to see that as far as is possible a democratic decision is made.
As to his comments on the Bega Valley Shire Council and BVSRRA working together, it will never happen while the council and staff retain their “we alone know what is good for you, we are the experts, common sense is to be spurned, we don’t particularly care what you think you want or not want, money is no object, so sit still, pay the bills and accept that (and remain silent).”
I regret that he is destined to be disappointed.
“Utopia” has many faces according to one’s own beliefs.
I look forward to seeing his suggestions further expounded in your columns.
Peter Rogers
Bega
Congratulations
Past and present members of SCPA- South East Producers I’m sure would join me in congratulating Carole Broadhead on receiving the Order of Australia medal for services to the Far South Coast and charitable organisations.
Carole was a founding member of SCPA in 1993, a life member and past president who displayed leadership alongside dignity, humility and compassion for others.
Together with her husband Bill, they led many initiatives within SCPA with the aim of working with others to build a local food culture that supported sustainable growing practices.
They began with the “Flower Power” group that researched and developed native cut flowers as a potential horticulture enterprise regionally.
That special interest group became a model for other ventures to start including, herbs, vermiculture, aquaculture, bushfoods, organic fruit and vegetables and meat rabbits.
The activity these groups generated allowed for a diversity of potential income streams for new arrivals buying up smaller parcels of land to complement the traditional farming of dairy and beef cattle.
The Meat Rabbit group went on to form Bega Valley Gourmet Meats as a commercial cooperative that established the small species abattoir near Bega.
It remains one of the few facilities of its type left in NSW.
Carole, along with others, then turned her attention toward the eco-tourism that was becoming fashionable in the early 2000s and set up the Rural Tourism Network.
It made sense that all this activity people were doing on their farms was value-added by making connections with the increasing volume to tourist traffic visiting the Far South Coast.
Many initiatives were trialed by this dynamic group of locals that continue today including the fortnightly SCPA Markets in Littleton Gardens in Bega.
Finally and currently, Carole runs the Loomgrowers Group under SCPA that has a charitable focus to assist impoverished women in the Third World.
A notable beneficiary for support has been the charity Mahboba’s Promise, which has established orphanages and permaculture projects for women and children in Afghanistan.
SCPA celebrated 20 years of service to the community last year and Carole Broadhead has been on that journey from the beginning.
That such important roles in our region are carried out by a voluntary grassroots organisation speaks volumes for the many individuals who have contributed, and continue to do so, to the SCPA story.
John Champagne
SCPA president
Exit strategy
What a shame about the exit south on to the new Bega Bypass.
With the rest of Australia all having their island median strips dividing their roads in directions, Bega now has one that divides the outgoing traffic.
Traffic leaving town has to take one lane each side of the dividing island, depending on which way you are going.
How long will it be before someone turning into Bega at this southern entrance collects and kills someone wanting to go north from the wrong side of the island divider?
Is the cost of repairing this oversight more than the impending lawsuit?
Jaki Miller
Bega
Entitled to privacy
To the BVSC general manger:
It was good to note all three public toilets were unlocked to be used on Australia Day.
Thank you!
Whether this was due to my recent letter of the council’s fear it would be shamed by more criticism is immaterial, but I hope it is not to be a one-off and we will continue to have the use of these facilities on a permanent basis.
However, I do not know if you are aware the automatic doors to the toilets open after 10 minutes if the space is not vacated.
I was extremely embarrassed for myself and for the gentleman using the disabled toilet when the door opened while he was still pulling his pants up just as I walked past to go to the ladies.
This is not right.
Everyone should be entitled to some privacy.
If the occupant is not allowed to have more control over the opening of the door, the least the council can do is provide some sort of privacy screen.
I have been told by a gentleman friend the same thing happened to him when using the toilet in the Woolworths complex.
When are we going to have proper toilets built in the Littleton Gardens area?
I see no reason why automatic self-cleaning pans cannot be installed in an “old-fashioned” brick building more in keeping with the surrounding structures.
I note also that while the official party at the Australia Day ceremony was comfortably seated under the shade of the few remaining trees, the poor old public still had to sweat it out in the open.
There was no shade provided for us.
Elvie Preo
Bega
Funny finance
While talking-up the new Bega Community Centre and council’s financial acumen, Mayor Bill Taylor confirmed that transferring the commercial kitchen from the new Tura Beach “community centre” to the new Taj Mahal in Bega will save $100,000 in fit-out costs.
Funny that.
Back in November, Cr Taylor was saying the new Tura Beach community centre was only going to cost residents and ratepayers $700,000, after the sale of the poker machine licenses for $300,000 and the value of the commercial kitchen facilities going to Bega of $200,000.
But what’s a lousy $100,000 between friends?
John Richardson
Wallagoot
Town team thanked
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the members of the Bega Town Team for their ongoing maintenance work in keeping the wisteria from the roadside planting outside the Commonwealth Bank in Carp St well pruned during the past year - ever since I raised my concerns about the dangerous situation for cyclists that had been allowed to occur in the main street of Bega.
The tendrils that grow outward across the roadway have been regularly pruned back maintaining safe passage for cyclists using the roadway and improved visibility for motorists pulling away from the parking spaces in Carp St near the wisteria planting.
Each time I ride down the main street, I am sincerely grateful to the members of the Bega Town Team for their work in keeping the wisteria well pruned, particularly over the summer months when it is growing faster and requires more frequent maintenance.
Hugh Pitty
Bega
Postage rise
Australia Post is proposing to increase the cost of a stamp to 70 cents, a rise of 10 cents.
I am happy for this to occur if it guarantees the continuation of daily delivery.
Having lived in regional Australia I know how vital the local post office is to many communities.
Keeping these hubs open is also critical to ensuring towns and villages not only survive, but thrive.
The organisation's further proposal to lock-in discounts for concession card holders is a nice idea to help people on limited incomes.
Andrew Heslop
Sydney