It comes as no surprise to read Peter Rogers’ letter (BDN 28/9) regarding the deterioration of the newly planted grass in Littleton Gardens, as it was with some concern that I watched the workmen laying down the perforated purple irrigation pipe a couple of months ago.

Particularly as later, the advanced trees were planted almost directly over it, I wondered how long before the roots of said trees would find their way into the irrigation system.

Now, although like Peter I am no expert, I have had some experience with the same type of irrigation, which I was advised by the council to install when I had my bio-septic connected some eight years ago.

I had been told by a friend it does not work and he had gone back to only above-ground sprinklers for his system - so I chose to get a mixture of both just in case.

I was a little worried that soil would get inside the pipe in spite of the council’s assurances it would not, and laid it on top of the soil and mulch.

It did not take long for the mulch to break down and clog the pipe, thereby rendering it useless.

I have since been using my above-ground sprinklers only, moving them around myself to equalise the irrigation.

My lawn is always green and the garden is thriving.

As the council-recommended irrigation cost me an extra $1500 I consider is a complete waste of money.

How much more than that did it cost for the intensive network of purple pipe in Littleton Gardens, which, as Peter says, is already having problems?

The grass is dying and full of weeds – pray the trees don’t end up the same way.

As ratepayers we should expect our money to be well spent.

Fortunately, the roses we rescued from the memorial garden (before demolition of the bandstand) are now thriving around the district, so that’s one bit of good news.

Elvie Preo

Bega

Regrettable approach

It’s a shame that Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon’s brief visit to the South East was based on the notion there is a koala population in Tanja State Forest (BDN, 9/10).

While it’s true that all production forests are targeted for logging and this can occur every five years, the areas provisionally protected from logging for koalas are all either adjacent to, or linked with, Biamanga National Park. 

Because the information to date indicates it takes at least 20 years for areas subject to logging or burning to again be suitable for koalas, it would seem to make little difference whether koala habitat is logged or burned. 

The question, if one is interested in saving koalas, is how to define koala habitat such that the management imposed threats are reduced and the “natural” threats can be addressed.

Regrettably, the conservation movement cannot agree on a scientific approach to defining koala habitat and their representative on the Biamanga board of management, Greens councillor Keith Hughes, has publicly stated he is on the board “for the Kooris” as opposed to the environment.

Cr Hughes did have the opportunity to support efforts to list koalas as endangered in NSW, but wouldn’t due to his strong belief that “genetic bottleneck” koalas around Numerella are related to known breeding endemic koalas, in forests from Dignams Creek to Wapengo. 

Similarly, and while local communities have been successful stopping logging and burning, Cr Hughes doesn’t support these efforts and doesn’t have a problem with burning koala habitat, even though burning has degraded more koala habitat in national parks over the past decade than logging has in state forests. 

While it may be understandable that the Bega Greens and SERCA would use koalas in the quest to stop woodchipping everywhere, their indirect support for habitat degradation, a reluctance to define koala habitat and a determination to undermine local koala initiatives, makes claims they care about koalas seem quite hypocritical.

Robert Bertram

Bermagui

Job well done

I would like to congratulate Cr Tony Allen for the wonderful job he did as mayor of the Bega Valley Shire for the past seven years.

This was evident in the very high vote he received at the recent council election.

Tony is liked and respected by many in the shire and has worked at achieving a close and positive relationship with our local politicians.

He has put in a great deal of work, time and care into ensuring the wellbeing, growth and dignity of our shire.

From my own experience, I know how much time and effort councillors put in, the mayor has to put in so much more.   

I know Tony will appreciate a break from the pressure he has had to deal with over the years and will continue to serve the Bega Valley Shire in the manner he has always done.

Joyce McGill

Tura Beach

Park safety issue

My family and I come to the Sapphire Coast on average about every second holiday we have.

The reason for this is that we feel this coastal region is one of the best in the world.

It’s clean, there are plenty of safe wild animals, there’s an abundance of ocean waters and rivers in which to swim and play, and the development doesn’t encroach upon the beaches like it does in other places we’ve visited – like last year’s holiday in Spain.

There I was appalled at how large multi-level apartment blocks were built virtually right on the sand in some regions, casting dark sinister shadows across the beach.

Not here in southern NSW though.

Just about everything is near perfect, beaches that are spotless, parks that are user friendly with free barbecues and healthy trees that offer shade from the spring and summer sun, play areas that are safe for the kids and people all over the place who are super friendly.

As well, there are no ugly buildings encroaching upon the beaches.

The most pleasurable example though of our recent stay in your area was our time spent in the national parks, both on our own and with the local discovery team.

My two young children were mesmerised with the team’s presentation and stories, the highlight of which was so simple – a mystery box where the kids put their hand in and felt what was inside, trying to pick what they were feeling.

I am at pains though to work out how long such enlightened programs will continue with the new direction allowing the shooting of feral animals in 76 of our NSW parks.

It was all brought home to me when my seven-year-old asked when entering the first of our recent national park adventures “we won’t get shot will we Daddy?”

I reassured them that Ben Boyd was not a national park where shooting was allowed, but as for their safety in other parks I feel it’s only a matter of time before a human life is lost to this insane practice.

Two horses have been the latest victims of the hunters, one at Buderoo NP where we used to regularly visit, and I’ve been alerted to the recent practice of hunters releasing animals specifically for the shoot.

I really don’t think this is what national parks should be all about.

Hopefully the change is not a permanent one.

I’d like our national parks to be an example to others, to aim at being the best in the world and to be a true representation of Australia’s nature.

Courtney Wells

Canberra

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