I would also like to thank the public of the Bega Valley for their positive response to these articles and extend an invitation to interested parents and children to attend the Bega Scout Hall in Gipps St on Tuesday, July 19, at 6.30pm. We will gather with a view to make arrangements for the continuation of Bega Cubs. For further information, call me on 0407 286 731.

At the recent World Environment Day dinner in Bega, the guest speaker, former state and federal politician Bob Debus, offered a historical perspective on environmental policy.

It’s a topic scarcely mentioned either in our recent federal election, or apparently in the US presidential campaign, despite real concerns of voters (captured in many opinion polls). 

Australia’s steady progress and political consensus on protecting the environment in past decades has been reversed in recent years, prompting world-wide criticism (such as over the unprecedented withdrawal of the carbon emissions pricing scheme).

Mr Debus reminded us of a motto coined in 2003 by US biologist EO Wilson: “Nature needs half”, signifying the extent of natural environment needing protection to support life on earth. 

Thanks to early policies our NSW south-east region is blessed and rare in having close to half the land and coast protected.

However, conservation must be resourced – budget cuts to NSW National Parks and Landcare programs threaten our best efforts.

The World Environment Day message highlights the urgency for collaborative community action to reignite environmental policy. Bega Valley Shire has a robust record in effective community environmental projects. Local stamina can influence national environmental trends.

Council appears to have a double standard for tree clearing laws.

I put an application in to remove a tree from a standard residential block. The tree in question is a very large red gum. It would have to be 30+metres high.

The tree encroaches on us building a house on this block, and poses a major threat from falling limbs to a house and property. It would also pose a major concern for the safety of my family and the families and property in adjoining blocks.

After six weeks of the application being lodged I had attended council office a few times and made numerous calls to find out what had happened to the application.

Finally a council rep returned my call and I was told my application would not be looked at on the grounds council wanted to be consistent around the shire.

The definition of consistent is the removal of trees from Littleton Gardens under the banner of public safety, the removal of a tree to redevelop their car park, this comes under progress.  In my disgust, I wrote a further complaint to council, then they replied I would be required to put in a DA before they would consider my application.

Even though my initial application meets several of their requirements for tree removal, it was still basically refused.

Further emails to council resulted in a third council official emailing me telling me that I would now have to get an independent study done on the tree before council would consider the application.  

It seems to be fine for the council to remove whatever trees they like for whatever reason they have, but for everybody else council does not seem to be concerned about the safety of people or property.