To have a walkway means that it can only be utilised by those who can walk and be of a particular fitness level sure the considerable hilly terrain.

This is very discriminatory as it excludes all other members of the wider community such as the elderly, wheelchair-bound individuals and people with walking issues.

If people wish to walk to the wharf there are already access opportunities provided, but if they have difficulty walking their access is severely restricted.

The amount of small vehicular traffic that travels down to the wharf on a daily basis is tremendous and the number of buses that start to go down but then have to reverse back is also considerable.

The congestion problem is exacerbated during busy times when parking is at a premium and the road space narrows to a very tight single lane one-way, which is extremely dangerous to drivers trying to pass in the opposite direction and especially pedestrians who have to walk on the road.

I believe the Ring Road should still be seriously considered as the most viable option of accessing Tathra Wharf as it would allow for easier traffic flow, less congestion with parking, much safer conditions and, above all else, access to all rather than only those fit and able.

As funding towards the construction of a ring road was promised by both federal and state governments at the 150^th birthday of the wharf in 2012 (where did this funding go by the way?) it is obviously of merit to these levels of government. Why can’t our own local government also see the value of a ring road when it would be of such benefit to our local tourist attraction and area?

I urge you to reconsider fully the merits of a ring road for Tathra Headland as the most beneficial, less discriminatory and safest option of accessing our wonderful heritage-listed Tathra Wharf.

This debate has been going on for too many years now and the longer it continues the more expensive it becomes.

I wish to thank your newspaper for its continued support of the Bega Valley Parkinson Support Group.Your reporting of  our monthly meetings keeps the  work done by the group open to the public domain. Many new members become aware of the group from your  newspaper.

Thank you to all who participated  in Santa Paws held in Merimbula and Cobargo this year. A big thank you to Kerri Brady and her team of helpers at both venues and many thanks  to our sponsors Eden Motor Group, Dulcies, Fisk and Nagle, DeeGee’s photography, Craig Noble Photography, Coastal Grooming Pet Spa Harros Grooming Cobargo and of course “Santa”.

The mystery of the missing koalas in our southern forests came to our attention with the first koala spotted in 75 years in Kosciuszko National Park.

Once koalas thrived from the mountains to the southern coast until hunting, clearing, stress related diseases and logging decimated their numbers across this greatest continuous Eucalypt forest. 

'Koalas need latitudinal and longitudinal habitat connectivity if they are to recover and survive climate change' the late John Hibbard said as the then Head of SERCA as the 2008 Campaign: Natural Native Forests - essential for climate, water and wildlife was launched.

This campaign went worldwide with the community’s effort to save the last southern koalas in the State Forests of Murrah, Mumbula, Tathra, Tanja, Gulaga and Bermagui from woodchipping.

The recently declared Murrah Flora Park covers these forests however the Park is an island and insufficient to guarantee long-term survival of this Vulnerable Australian icon.

Cultural burns and scientific evaluation are part of a government case study of the Murrah Flora Reserve, and critical to the Southern Koala Recovery Plan. Yet with a hot late summer predicted, one wildfire and back burning to save property could wipe the small but recovering far south coast population.

These now fire prone forests are thick with the silver top ash regrowth preferred for woodchips. 

Forest restoration in all State Forests is critical for Koala survival and the safety of locals and the thousands of summer visitors. 

A water crane permanently stationed in the Bega Valley is needed urgently. 

And the Regional Forest Agreements must not be renewed!

Koalas face urban expansion on the north coast and prolonged heat waves out west - our vast southern forests stretching from the Great Eastern Ranges to the east coast can provide hope for the long-term survival of the Koala in New South Wales.