Consultation a dirty word
Is community consultation a dirty word in the Bega Valley Shire?
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Before I moved to Bega in 2012 I thought for 42 years I had to deal with the worst councillors in the country.
They did what they wanted, when they wanted and turned Baulkham Hills into a town house ghetto.
But since I have lived here it has been like every week I read in this paper a resident or residents complaining that we have not been consulted before decisions affecting us are final.
Firstly there was the Frogs Hollow flying school proposal that was a very hot topic for a while. All that has gone quiet and no response has come from council.
I really hope council doesn’t just put through approval for this idiotic idea without a wide community consultation.
Secondly came the decimation of the trees in Littleton Gardens. Were you consulted?
Then there is the latest, the destruction of the community mural in the bus shelter in Gipps St.
What a backhander that is for all the wonderful community artists who contributed to something that gave such wonderful character to the Bega community.
Why is it that councillors always know what is better for us than we do?
We need to remember all this when council elections roll around.
I would also suggest the mayor needs to be popularly elected rather than the usual back room deals.
Frank Pearce, Bega
Respect our rivers
I would like to highlight to your readers that 993 people have drowned in a river, creek or stream in the past 13 years. This makes rivers the leading location for drowning in Australia.
The flat, still surface of a river, gives a false sense of security. You can’t see ice cold water, snags like tree branches or strong currents, but they can be lethal.
Dangerous activities such as consuming alcohol, driving through floodwaters and not wearing a lifejacket are also adding to the alarming figures.
To lose a loved one so close to home when it could have been prevented is heartbreaking. People need to act responsibly around rivers and avoid any behaviour that may increase the risk of drowning.
It’s simple, respect the river. To get more information readers can go to www.royallifesaving.com.au/respecttheriver
Justin Scarr, CEO Royal Life Saving Society Australia
Grateful for support
On behalf of the Bega Valley Advocates for Timor Leste we would like to publicly thank all those who participated in, and supported, our great fundraising concert on October 25.
Firstly thank you to all those who helped by supporting our promotional efforts.
To see those posters displayed in shop windows and on noticeboards around the shire was so encouraging.
The articles in newspapers, interviews and publicity on radio, pewsheet articles from the churches and on Facebook and word of mouth publicity was also extremely helpful.
A special thank you too, to Club Sapphire in Merimbula for its wonderful support of this community event, and to compere Ian Campbell, from ABC radio, who wove the program together.
Thank you also to Bega Cheese for its donation of the raffle prizes.
The wonderful and professional artistry of the two Sapphire Coast bands led by David and Geoff Willis, the Nomads' Choir and singer Liam McManus made the event very special and it was certainly enjoyed by the large and enthusiastic audience.
The Advocates are delighted the event was also financially very successful.
The proceeds will enable our group to provide vital assistance to students in the Natarbora region of Timor Leste.