Writing firstly from a rugby league perspective, council is proposing to blow more than $5million of our state government grant money on a new stadium leaving approximately $3million for the outdoor user groups to construct a fit for purpose pavilion to service the needs of rugby league, soccer and cricket, despite the indoor hall only having Fling arts group and intermittent indoor hockey use.

It is quite clear that hundreds of outdoor user participants are going to be forced to go without NRL standard changerooms, separate canteen facilities to service both grounds, canteen and spectator facilities and club rooms because the budget and site is simply too small.

In contrast at Pambula Village it's a different story which was articulated by both Councillors Nadin and Bain that their outdoor user group facility is more than triple the size of the supposed regional centre at Bega. This beggars the question is it Pambula Village or Bega that is the supposed regional centre.

Bega has always been the preferred site for NRL trial games and the preferred venue for Group 16 grand final with the economic benefits to all the shire obvious. But without a fit for purpose build for outdoor users Bega's position as the regional sport facility is in jeopardy.

A petition signed by user groups both indoor and outdoor was presented to explore a different way forward by relocating the current stadium off site to relieve congestion (which will only be compounded when basketball restarts) and avoid competing events. But four councillors - Fitzpatrick, Allen, Seckold and Griff (McBain and Tapscott were absent) - chose to ignore the users because they obviously know best.

I urge council to rethink and rescind their position and move with Crs Nadin, Bain and Dodds who all recognise Bega as the regional centre.

The Bega Valley Shire Council has ignored the public by voting to keep all user groups at Bega Sportsground squashed into the one site (BDN, 28/8).

A petition signed by all users to move the stadium was ignored.

For over seven years now there have been discussions on a new sports complex at the Bega Recreation Ground. The biggest hurdle is trying to fit too many users on to an area that is not large enough.

Architects have been unable to draw up a plan that would keep Bega as the regional sports centre of Bega Valley Shire.

Bega needs a performing arts venue separate from the sports complex.

Cricket, soccer and rugby league need facilities similar to the Maitland field or at the very least equal to the plans for the Pambula Village sports pavilion. On the latest plans Bega is getting 300sqm of facilities while the Pambula Village has 1250sqm.

Where will the next NRL match in Group 16 be held?

It makes more sense and the shire would get better value by working with Fling and finding a venue for the performing arts. Also, by working with the PCYC, additional funding may be available to build a new community and multi-purpose building in Bega at a site other than the Bega Rec Ground.

Council's point of there being a greater opportunity for avoiding duplication of amenities does not seem possible while Cr Russell Fitzpatrick believed an architect could make the decision work for everyone. Well council and architects have been trying now for quite some time without success.

Again I ask that council provides modelling, plans and costing before making a final decision.

This article paints a grim picture of doom and gloom (Bushfires and COVID take their toll, 9/9). Bushfires loss of summer and COVID loss of Easter trade came on the back of the Tathra 2018 fires.

We have learnt so much, we are resilient and now our local businesses, community members and local, regional and state decision makers understand the importance of regional tourism to our economy.

We can and we will recover just like we have previously.

This time we will build back to better and with our community and council behind us we can showcase our beautiful area to new markets and encourage domestic travel.

We didn't rely heavily on international tourism in our LGA, so an increase in visitor numbers on the road In regional NSW is just what we need to lead to a full recovery.

Let's hold hope, plan carefully and work hard, we are all in this together.

It was uplifting to read the report of Kristy McBain's maiden speech to parliament (Emotional first speech, 4/9). As a former mayor of Bega Valley Shire, Ms McBain has experienced first-hand the devastation of last season's fires and understands the role climate change played in their intensity.

Let's hope Ms McBain can talk sense into Joel Fitzgibbon, fellow Labor MP, who is blinkered by coal and doesn't seem to give a hoot about global warming.

My entire property was destroyed in the recent fires. Council generously granted $500 to help recover my life and then recovered most of it by removing the pensioner concession on my current rates because I'm not living there. I'm boarding in Eden trying to save up to rebuild as I was uninsured!