Many tourist-savvy towns have properly constructed and signposted dump points to encourage passing tourists to stop, empty their tanks and while in town top up with fuel, water, groceries and partake of the activities and attractions the town has to offer.

There is no such public facility in Pambula, Pambula Beach, Merimbula or Eden. The dump point in Bega is poorly sited and poorly signposted.  It is understood there is a dump point at Cobargo.

The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA), with the support of a well known motorhome manufacturer, sponsors the installation and signage of dump points.

The Sapphire Coast Four Wheel Drive Club has recently discussed the provision of  these dump points and feels the community, particularly the business community of the above towns should get behind the provision of dump points in the above towns.

Statistics provided by the Australian Caravan Club indicate that an estimated $13million is spent on any one day in Australia by the estimated 130,000 RVs on the road.

Towns without a dump point frequently miss out on their share of this because many tourists say "If there is no dump point we do not stop, but simply drive on to the next town that has one"

One South Pambula resident who is also a member of the CMCA has noted that around 50 motorhomes and caravans pass through Pambula each day.

Most of them do not stop because of the lack of suitable, signposted parking and the lack of a dump point.

This resident has also kindly offered to donate substantially towards the cost of the installation of a Pambula dump point because he strongly feels it will be of great benefit to the town.

Are the local Chambers of Commerce and Bega Valley Shire Council prepared to back these installations?

In a recent editorial, the Bega District News expressed dismay at council’s failure to consult with the community over its plan to erect a memorial to the intrepid Lucas brothers from Brogo, all nine of whom volunteered for military service in World War 2.

The Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association (BVSRRA) believes council’s failure to engage in genuine consultation with the community is simply due to the fact that it has a “tin ear” – that is to say, it can’t hear any opinion other than its own and on that basis, it simply sees no reason to try and listen.

As council made clear when it adopted its communications strategy back in 2013, its principal concern was how it could get the community to tune-in and accept its messages, not to try to find out what the community thinks or why.

Not only is council not interested in engaging in genuine consultation with the community, but even when it goes through the motions, it still can’t be trusted to honour its commitments, as was so glaringly demonstrated by its determination to destroy every large gum tree in Littleton Gardens, notwithstanding its solemn commitment that those trees would be retained; or more recently its decision to desecrate the Dr Evershed Memorial Clock Tower, contrary to its own landscape master plan.

So, while the Bega District News is puzzled by council’s failure to consult with the community over its plans for a memorial to the Lucas brothers, the BVSRRA believes the community should be asking what happened to council’s first resolution after being elected in 2012 to develop a more effective communications strategy, in particular to “outline how the organisation and councillors may best present and receive information to and from the community”.