The decision may have been made for exactly the wrong reason but, as it turns out, it was exactly the right decision.

There were, and are, many very much more-deserving projects in the Eden-Monaro electorate that require funding ahead of yet another visual arts gallery in Bega. And if funding is specifically available to build a gallery in Bega, it should be directed to one that caters to the proven needs of a wider of range of arts activities. It must not be pitched at just the narrow visual arts sector.

Future 'arts' funding opportunities will arise. Council (if they are to be the applicant) need to think more broadly to secure available funding. As Eurobodalla Council demonstrated, an 'arts' facility could even incorporate a swimming pool!

And they must remember 'the show is not over until the fat lady sings' - in this case the 'fat lady' being the Minister who, whether we like it or not, does have the ultimate say about who receives, or does not receive, funding.

Firstly let me say I have absolutely nothing against the newly elected mayor and was greatly impressed with what she had to say about all councillors working together for the benefit of the community instead of all the infighting.

However, with all the ordinary decisions made by BVSC it's time for a popularly elected mayor. That way if a decision is tied the mayor who the people have elected will have the casting vote. Why? Because they have the confidence of the majority of residents.

All councillors during their term of office must make their political affiliations secondary to their community responsibilities because these affiliations seem to raise their heads when a new mayor is elected.

It's not just BVSC it's all the councils whose mayor is not popularly elected.

At least when a major decision is being made we know the mayor we have voted for is not being swayed by those councillors who voted for them.

What prompted this letter is the news where a motion that all financial briefings be on a monthly basis rather than "whenever".

Considering BVSC financial position of a $14million deficit and worse to come why would there be any opposition to looking more regularly at what council's main objective should be?

Being very prudent and careful with increasing amounts of money they keep taking out of residents pockets. Makes no sense to me. Does it make sense to you?

I would love to see in writing a logical clarification from council as to why they and many other types of councils so strongly oppose a popularly elected mayor.

Cost will be the thing they throw up but there is minimal cost if it is done at the same time as the normal council election. The councillor who gets the most overall votes becomes mayor.

Also if elected by the people the mayor needs to complete their term of office not play musical chairs midterm so everyone gets to be mayor at some stage.

It is good that Forestry was fined (regarding work in Tantawangalo State Forest), but not enough. Let's hope that our local ABC gets stuck into them, but they are gutless when interviewing Forestry. Simon needs to get more informed about what goes on in Forestry. When questioning Forestry in an interview, he forgot to ask about all the native animals living in the trees that are there. Get with it Simon, Bring back Tim Holt.

In relation to Wayne Marmont's question of where I was during January and February of this year (BDN Letters, 8/5) I'm happy to report that I was variously in Melbourne and back in the shire doing everything I humanly could to prevent the next bushfires.

Indeed, that's what I've been doing since March 18, 2018 - everything humanly possible to ensure what happened to Tathra and district, then to Bemboka and Yankees Gap, doesn't happen to anyone else.

If Mr Marmot is referring to hazard reduction burns, these were unfortunately very difficult to perform given the tiny window of opportunity because of the drought, low humidity, dangerous fire weather and other issues - all raised by the RFS and other fire experts. And the vast majority of forest in the shire is under the remit of the state government, not local government so concerns about this are best raised there.

Today I attended the opening hearing of the Royal Commission into Natural Disaster Responses and heard detailed presentations from the CSIRO pointing to climate change as the biggest driver of these new fires.

But of course, until we address the ultimate cause of these escalating fires (by lowering our greenhouse gas emissions) all other measures to tackle bushfires will be of limited effect.

I will continue to do my utmost to raise awareness of the dangers of climate-fuelled bushfires and advocate for mitigation and adaptation

What is BVSC doing about bushfire prevention? Inside the township of Eden there are a number of council managed places littered with dead vegetation that if ignited could start fires that destroy many homes. Other towns and villages may be in the same situation. What is BVSC doing to reduce fire risk on council managed land?