Maybe 10 times in that 40km stretch of road. 

Quite ironic given that Mr Constance doesn’t like trees. 

Mr Constance would destroy a tree, no matter how majestic, without a moment’s hesitation if there was a dollar in it somewhere. 

We know this because Mr Constance is the Treasurer in the NSW Liberal Government, which continues to subsidise the logging of native forest for woodchips, and continues to refer to trees as waste when they are felled as collateral damage of logging operations. 

As NSW Treasurer, Mr Constance is a 50 per cent shareholder of the Forestry Corporation and in that role he has consistently presided over multimillion dollar losses in native forest logging. 

This is money lost to NSW taxpayers that could be spent on education, health, childcare and so on.

There are as many infuriating ironies in seeing the promotion of Andrew Constance using the bark of eucalypts, as there would be in going to the personal care aisle of the supermarket and finding the boxes of condoms adorned with a smiling portrait of the Pope. 

Kerrin Sheard

Wallagoot

(Greens member)

I couldn’t help but be amused by Peter Hendy’s announcement (BDN, 27/2) of a $100,000 grant to plant 18,000 trees over a three-year period.

It would take less than three weeks for this number of trees to be cut down to supply the Eden woodchip mill in typical operating times.

Not only does his government tolerate that, it subsidises it in a variety of ways.

Now he expects us to be impressed that he is conscripting young unemployed people into Greg Hunt's so-called "Green Army" to plant tiny saplings that may or may not eventually grow into trees as big as those being cut down for woodchips.

Harriett Swift

Bega

I refer to the report in the BDN (3/3) regarding 18,000 trees being planted on dairy properties in the Bega Valley, which indicates that some 90 hectares of prime dairy farm land is being turned into forests.

At this time when every effort is being made to increase milk production in the Bega Valley and capitalise on the success of Bega Cheese and the prosperity of its work force, to organise a reduction of the milk supply in the Bega Valley must be regarded with hostility by every shareholder in Bega Cheese.

I believe that if trees are to be planted by these "dairy farmers", then the trees should originate from Bega Valley arboretums and not from Peter Hendy. 

These trees should be a species that can be harvested frequently and forwarded and processed at the Bombala factory.

Ivor G Williams

Pambula

Did I hear correctly that when (or if) the electricity network is sold the NSW Liberal Government want to spend $202million on improving the sound in the Opera House?  

And they take the credit for our $187million new hospital. 

Just imagine how far that money could go instead of spending it on a luxury few of us can afford to listen to.

Maybe another one or two small regional hospitals, more nurses for Bega, better roads, $50million back into the GSAH budget? 

All the Liberal voters must be healthy or wealthy because it’s obvious why the health system is eroding away.

Mr Constance, I hope those core flute signs you put up every 5km on the main highways, in both directions, are paid by you and not by taxpayers? 

Is their frequency supposed to provoke a subliminal message? 

Well it’s working. 

Just reminds more me how I won’t vote for your policies and your concern (or total lack of) for the environment as displayed by your speech at the opening of the Cobargo Show.

Sarah Quinlan

Cobargo

If anything, Anzac Day commemorations are not “in danger of going off the rails and glorifying war” as Cr Hughes suggests (BDN, 6/3), but are increasingly providing the opportunity for reflecting on the ghastly impacts of war.

The effect that war has had on servicemen and their families has long been recognised.  

In fact, Anzac Day was first instituted to remember those who fought in World War 1 and, especially, to honour those who lost their lives.

This has remained the principal focus of Anzac Day.

And it has never celebrated or glorified war.

But publications such as my The Unreal Story of World War 1 & the NSW South Coast, Professor Joan Beaumont’s excellent Broken Nation, and exhibitions such as The Great War: Tales from the Far South Coast at the Bega Museum, and The Home Front which opens at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra on April 3 are now widely highlighting the devastating impact that wars have also had on local industry and local communities.

So Anzac Day ceremonies are now, more likely than ever before, also reminding us about the broader impacts of war.

I therefore encourage everyone, including Cr Hughes, to actively support Anzac Day remembrance activities.

I’d also suggest that an appropriate personal aim for everyone, in this Centenary of Anzac year, would be to learn a little more about what happened 100 years ago and why WW1 has played such a pivotal role in forging Australia’s current national identity.

It’s timely, therefore, that a one-hour presentation on Australia’s role in WW1 is being held at Eden Library next Wednesday at 10am. 

Then, the following Wednesday, the impact of WW1 on the NSW South Coast will be discussed.

Everyone is welcome at either session. 

Further details are available from and bookings can be made through the Eden Community Access Centre, 6496 3970.

Peter Lacey

Quaama 

Why are the climate change deniers so relentless with their communications? 

There are several types of climate change deniers. 

Probably the most troublesome are those surrounding the coal mining and energy companies. 

These companies have very talented scientists working for them. 

They may not be climate scientists, but they know how to read and interpret science journals and reports. 

If the companies have any reasonable reporting or communication systems they would know the accuracy and urgency of human induced climate change from these professionals. 

Yet the managers choose to fund misinformation spread by "think tanks" or lobbying companies so as to ensure short term profits. 

The role of these paid think tanks calls into question the very basis of our democracy. 

The minions of the think tank don't have to believe their message. 

They are paid to deliver a message, any message, and they take great pride in the reach of the message and the effectiveness of their paid message. 

When the corrupted messages are delivered into a culture of science illiteracy, dubious political ethics and three word mantras, they can seem relatively coherent. 

If they contain some scientific terms and are repeated relentlessly they may seem believable. 

To understand the coming climate changes and needed responses we should seek out the climate specialist scientists and not this Flintstones Coalition government or their paid climate sceptic lobbying companies.

Greg Thompson

Bega

Premier Mike Baird and Treasurer Andrew Constance are determined to impose a narrow cost-cutting Neoliberal agenda on the NSW public, where the economy takes precedence over society.

Losses of the public’s assets are socialised and profits privatised.

Domestic violence services are suffering under the Baird government’s neo-Liberal agenda.

While the Australia of the Year, Rosie Batty, who lost everything to domestic violence, is praised for her courage, bravery and working for change, stet Treasurer Andrew Constance has cut funding to domestic violence services, merging them with Christian charities’ homelessness services, which because of federal cuts are more stretched than ever.

Andrew Constance said recently that comments about the closure of domestic violence services were “fear-mongering”, but evidence shows otherwise.

Domestic violence services on the Central Coast and the Hunter have closed because of funding cuts.

Remaining services have reduced hours.

Caseloads have increased due to lack of additional staff or funding.

The losers are women and children escaping domestic violence and skilled workers who support them.

While Moruya Women’s Refuge remains open, it is now run by Mission Australia.

Important local knowledge has been lost along with continuity of care.

Privatisation of domestic violence services are framed around what proponents of Neoliberalism believe ought to be, instead of what is.

Domestic violence costs the community $13.6billion yearly.

It is a false economy to cut funding and services that support women when we know that – one woman dies every week due to domestic homicide resulting in immense trauma for those left behind.

The Baird government needs to deal with reality – a growing domestic violence problem that impacts the whole community requiring proper political commitment/funding.

Forcing the issue of domestic violence into a narrow Neoliberal framework where saving money trumps saving lives is not decent or acceptable.

Maureen Searson

Batemans Bay