What Cr Keith Hughes said was absolutely true, every word of it.

Fairly recently I needed posts for my new house and was told there was nothing suitable available locally.

The building work was mainly out of my control and I ended up with ironbark out of Queensland.

How bad is that!

This is one result of our forests being subjected to a regime of clear-felling and then integrated logging, from the late 1960s, for woodchips for Japan leaving no young trees for sawlogs for future use.

How clever is that!

Hardwood forests were even burnt down to grow pine – Bondi State Forest, Coolangubra, for example.

As far as I can tell, any harm that has been done is by Forestry itself, supported by government licensing.

The story is a tragic one on all fronts and I thank Cr Hughes for his courage and honesty in presenting the facts.

Pauline Buck

Candelo

Soon, if the council has its way, you'll be walking further to the chemist, the bank, the post office and to buy a paper. 

Plans to significantly reduce available parking between council's building and businesses facing Carp St, and replacing it with more park sounds appealing - if you don't think and you're healthy. 

Grab a sheet of paper from on top of the fridge of wherever and write something like this:

Dear Mrs Leanne Barnes, general manager of Bega Valley Shire Council, and Bega councillors, I wish to object to the proposal to increase park in Littleton Gardens and take away many, many car spaces.

People come to Bega to shop and if they can't park near the shops they will go elsewhere and more shops will be closing on Carp St. 

There's the Bega River, the memorial gardens and other parks around Bega for people to enjoy. 

I am:

* Frail

* Older

* And/or have difficulty walking very far

* I have a disability

* I'm in a wheelchair

* I'm on crutches/cane

* I use a walking frame

* I don't qualify for a Disability Parking Authority but struggle

* I'm heavily pregnant and have children as well

* I've lived here all my life and deserve consideration

* Other category… 

After crossing out the categories that don't apply to you, remember to sign your letter, printing your name under your signature, pop your letter in an envelope with your address on the back and either drop it in to council, or mail it to Ms Barnes GM and Bega Councillors, PO Box 492, Bega, 2550, and put a 70c stamp on it.

It's the only way to register your objection - otherwise you'll be living with the council's plans for the rest of your life.

Ian Dalwood

Kalaru

I'm writing as a member of this community who has been saddened by recent events involving the broken tendering process for homelessness and women's and children's services, and I want to say a few things directly to the member for Bega and state Treasurer.

Sir, I applaud you for finally meeting with the service providers at Hope Place and Hope House in Batemans Bay, who were unfairly shut out of the tender process, and whose pleas for help and information went unheard by your colleague, Minister Gabrielle Upton.

 I agree with you that the tender process was deeply flawed and unfair in this electorate, and across the entire state. 

It takes courage to admit that your government made a mistake, and thank you for admitting to it.

 I now urge you to meet with every other service provider in this electorate who has been forced to pick up the pieces left by this broken tender process. 

As you say, this “shouldn't have happened in the first place”, but a better policy can be had by listening to the community and taking on their concerns, as I have.

 Finally, I ask you to hear the community's call for a full inquiry into the process. 

No-one thinks that a reactive, piecemeal approach will solve the current problem and start the healing we need. 

You need to put an end to this sorry episode. 

Leanne Atkinson

Tathra

Labor candidate for Bega