Public condemnation
The Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association (BVSRRA) believes the ongoing refusal of Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC) to publicly oppose the proposed retail liquor license as part of the Woolworths supermarket development in Bermagui amounts to a failure of public leadership.
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When the original development application for the supermarket was lodged, it included provision for a retail liquor outlet.
In considering the application at its meeting on March 26 this year, BVSC resolved unanimously to call on the developer to remove the liquor outlet from its application.
The developer obliged BVSC’s request and submitted an amended application making no reference to a liquor outlet, which was subsequently approved by council on April 16.
In what many in the community regarded as a legal but cynical act of deceit, Woolworths’ representatives subsequently advised residents/ratepayers in Bermagui of their intention to pursue approval of a retail liquor licence for the supermarket development through the NSW Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing (OLGR), effectively bypassing council.
Since then, BVSC has offered “comments” on the licence proposal as part of the OLGR process.
Needless to say, the BVSRRA believes it remains open to BVSC and individual councillors to publicly condemn the actions of Woolworths in thumbing its nose at both the council and the community and to oppose the inclusion of a retail liquor license in the supermarket development, just as it did unanimously only some six months ago.
John Richardson
Secretary, BVSRRA
Sticks and stones
As a child in the 1950s there was a common saying: “sticks and stones can break your bones, but names can never hurt you”.
How things have changed, when one can’t even voice an opinion for fear of being called “racist”.
Seemingly, there are rules for some and not for others.
In recent weeks, we hear the statement that “people should be able to wear whatever they like”.
Does this mean we can also, freely, wear nothing at all?
I think not!
It also seems wrong that some people are allowed to be labelled by their religion rather than the country in which they reside - an insult to other Australians and the country.
It would be pretty confusing if we all called ourselves Catholics, Presbyterians, Atheists, Agnostics, or a thousand other possible group names.
This is not the Australian way and despite all those who are prominent in declaring that Australia had no culture, I wish to disagree!
This country was pioneered and settled by the English, Scottish and Irish, along with their customs and culture.
Now, we hear the word “multiculturalism” over and over again, as if there was nothing before migrants from so many other places arrived.
As much as I regret the invasion of Australia by the British and acknowledge the tragedy of what they did to the original inhabitants, I resent the continued omission of those pioneers and original Australian “culture”.
Yes, we have many other ways now, but don’t dismiss Australia’s first settlers and pioneers, who made the place that everyone else now wants to live in!
I will be surprised if my opinions on the above-mentioned subjects are printed, but can assure you, they are what the majority of us ageing, non-racist Australians think!
Diana Honan
Moruya
