Leaders falling short
September 9 will mark one year since the last big tree in Littleton Gardens, Bega, was felled amid controversy against the wishes of many local people.
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Hundreds of people witnessed the felling of the tree, having gathered to support those citizens, myself included, who were doing everything we could to save the healthy mature flooded gum tree.
The whole episode was symptomatic of a council that made unpopular decisions without proper consultation.
The destructive and wasteful redevelopment of Littleton Gardens at a cost of $4million is one reason why the outgoing councillors should not be re-elected.
The election will be held this Saturday, September 10, one year since the stump of the tree so many loved was unceremoniously winched out of the ground.
When I cast my vote, I will remember this terrible act and the misguided council that authorised it. Hopefully, others will too.
Hugh Pitty, Bega
Future in our hands
Council ballot is tomorrow
This time choose to end the sorrow
Roads, rates, rubbish gets a tick
More costly building get the flick
New Chambers are like lego-land
To view a Gardens now so bland
The swimming pools may loose their start
Communities so will loose their heart
Consultation the word to glisten
Will our Council ever listen
The Bega Clock it has the power
Now it has its time to tower
A New Airport is proposed
New arrivals no place to doze
Planning goes beyond the length
Facilities must have the strength
Our local villages hold the key
Vibrant community they seek to be
The UK got their blessed Brexit
So will the Valley get their Begexit
Kym Mogridge, Tathra
Youth neglected
The future of Bega is youth, but they are being sadly neglected particularly by council.
Right across Bega shire there is little if anything in the way of quality youth facilities. No wonder a lot of kids are getting into trouble or leaving as soon as they can.
I would ask council to have some vision and utilise either part or all of their recently purchased hospital site as a quality youth facility. A place where kids can gather with some invisible supervision and do whatever kinds of activities they themselves choose.
Do a survey across all schools and ask the kids what they want in the way of activities. As adults we are all responsible for the nurture and wellbeing of children but we never ask the kids what they think about what we are providing. Why because as adults we all know better, but do we? I know five-year-olds who can run rings around me with IT and many other things.
At the moment we have enough educational facilities like TAFE and Uni to cater for the children’s educational needs but have zero in the way of catering for their wellbeing needs. I know from very long experience across all levels of education that a child’s wellbeing needs to come first or else the educational part will break down badly.
A while back I visited Campbell Page in Eden who are doing great things especially with disenfranchised youth on a shoestring budget. A visit to this centre while it’s operating may give council a wakeup call.
Maybe the facility could have things like a homework centre and learning support for kids who desperately need it.
I judge everything by what I expect for my own children, grandchildren and the many children I assist. If I don’t think something is good enough for them I will do everything in my power to change things regardless of personal cost.
The ‘she’ll be right mate’ attitude gets nothing done and if we keep doing the same things we will keep getting the same pathetic results.