In March of this year, Bega Valley Shire Council promised that its “Concept Plan” for the park “will be widely advertised for comment with key user groups and the community in general”.

Fast forward to council’s meeting held on July 1 and we were told that “An enthusiastic user group has provided input and been kept up to date with concept plan development for renewal at Bega Park”.

So much for consultation with the community in general.

Meanwhile, BVSC has refused to confirm the fate of the lanterns that were installed in the park in the 1880s and removed earlier this year, after someone in council apparently decided that they had “reached the end of their useful lives”.

Council has also refused to confirm whether its heritage consultant had been asked to inspect/assess the lanterns/light posts to determine their heritage value and the potential importance of them being heritage listed and protected, as well as whether they could be restored and put back into use.

It seems that some things will never change at BVSC - with promises of public consultation all too often being made on a throw-away basis and decisions involving the management of public assets being made in secret, while the decision-makers remain unknown and entirely unaccountable.

The lack of openness and transparency, as well as the absence of adequate public consultation and accountability, around the management of Bega Park and other public facilities is entirely unacceptable.

John Richardson, secretary

Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association

I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel.  

Does anyone know a good engine driver who can drive Australia forward?

John Carter

Wallaga Lake

Two decisions, by the Baird and Abbott governments, exemplify that their neoliberal world view is unrealistic and reductionist. 

Cruel policy reflects citizenry as mere economic consumers, as nasty cuts impact people’s lives.

Decisions regarding financial redress for around 24,000 victims of crime and properly funded services for victims of domestic violence confirm the Baird/Abbott governments’ failure to grasp that people are human beings not monetised commodities. 

Pre-election Mike Baird and then Attorney General Brad Hazzard pledged to reinstate the NSW victim’s compensation scheme after cruel and nasty retrospective cuts were made in 2013. 

In the real world, after pressure from a young woman due to receive a $50,000 compensation payment for a gang rape and a change.org petition with over 150,000 public signatures, Mike Baird pledged to fix “serious inequities” in the scheme. 

New Attorney General Gabriel Upton said victims of crime would be "treated with care, compassion and respect”. 

However, in the real world, necessary legislation has been delayed meaning that it could take another three years to reinstate the scheme.

Furthermore, the Abbott/Baird governments made grandiose statements about domestic violence prevention when the courageous anti domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty was named the 2015 Australian of the Year.

In the real world, Ms Batty’s pleas for proper investment in prevention are falling on deaf ears. 

Judicial education and effective perpetrator intervention is urgent, as is the need for increased funding not less, for women’s crisis centres.

Front line services have less funding now while more women seek help. 

In the real world there are 80 domestic violence attacks reported daily and not enough beds for women to be safe.

In the real world we share society.  

The Abbott/Baird governments’ neoliberal obsession with cuts exposes uncaring, compassionless and disrespectful values towards fellow human beings. 

Undeniably indefensible! 

Maureen Searson

Batemans Bay