When the woodchipping industry came to the south-east of NSW in the 1970s, we were told that it would utilise only “waste” wood.  

It now consumes 90 per cent of all trees felled.  

Not surprisingly, we are now being told that large scale electricity generation would consume only “waste” wood, whereas we know that in plain English this equates to entire forests.

If the ultimate purpose of the RET is to combat climate change rather than provide a lifeline to a struggling native forest timber industry, then due recognition should be given to the importance of native forests in terms of the vast amount of carbon stored in standing trees.

Further compounding the proposal’s illogicality (if that is possible) is the fact that because the RET scheme is capped, every kilowatt of power produced by burning native forests will mean a corresponding reduction in energy from renewables such as solar and wind.

Kim Taysom

Nimmitabel

Just to be clear - the so-called native forest “waste” that is the sticking point in current Renewable Energy Target negotiations is not sawdust or tree stumps or branches. 

If the industry gets its way, it will be thousands of living, breathing trees in state forests, homes to wildlife, many of them already threatened species. 

In NSW these trees can already be classified as “waste” for the woodchipping industry - now desperate to get renewable energy subsidies to prop up its pariah trade. 

The industry views the RET as its lifeline to a whole new round of subsidies and survival.

Harriett Swift

Bega

I recently attended a Year 7 school camp with Sapphire Coast Anglican College to Jindabyne as a parent helper.  

The camp was organised by Jean Winterflood, David Price and assisted by Vicky Bevett with four parent helpers.

I really had no idea of what to expect on a high school camp and what to expect of the teachers.  

During the course of the three-day camp I found the teachers friendly and approachable to all students and allowed the students to get to know them as a person rather than simply as a teacher. 

Dave, Jean and Vicky are great models for our children in their tween years as they seek non-family role models.

The theme for the camp was working on your strengths, working as a team and trying new challenges.  

The camp was interactive with a range of activities for the students, which they all enjoyed.

Finding the right school for your child is a hard thing to do and there is no perfect school.  

I have read that research indicates the kids who develop a bond with their teachers have been shown to be more resilient when coping with struggles at home and with peers. 

SCAC gets a big tick for that.

Throughout the camp, students success was applauded as they happily chatted and interacted with their teachers.  

I was pleasantly surprised at the positive approach these teachers had to all their students and how much work these teachers put into these kids.  

I find that the teachers at SCAC not only care about their educational needs, but just as important their wellbeing.  

With the pressures teenagers are facing today this can only be a positive thing.

After attending the camp I have no doubt that we have selected the right school for our girls and that is Sapphire Coast Anglican College.  

I find it to be a nice balance of Christian values without them being rammed down your throat, sporting and academic opportunities.  

Thank you to the staff at SCAC for your dedication in helping us to raise our daughters to be confident, resilient kind, caring and future contributing members to our society.

Cindy Putvinas

Tathra

I refer to the latest letter to the editor BDN (8/5) from that prolific climate sceptic from Surf Beach, and once again his garbled utterances have all the hallmarks of being produced and emanating from Tony Abbott's propaganda headquarters.

Could the editor of this newspaper, that has fostered this Liberal Party member and his political views on the Bega community, explain why Sydney temperatures reach 38 Celsius three or four times a year, while early records indicate that only once in the first 20 years did the temperature reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ivor G Williams

Pambula

I was going to write and say that Neville Hughes is our own, local Maurice Newman. 

But then I remembered that Neville doesn't actually live in the Bega Valley.

Jo Dodds

Bega