Time to put nature first
It is indeed a "national scandal" that 14 months on from the catastrophic bushfires, some people are still living in tents (BDN, 5/3). I also want to bring attention to the catastrophic loss of life that occurred in our local public forests. Tens of millions of mammals and birds, hundreds of millions of reptiles and an uncountable number of invertebrates perished in the blaze.
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This monstrous loss of life will take many generations to recover. Perhaps some species will never recover and more of our unique wildlife will slide toward extinction.
In spite of this, it has come to my attention that NSW Forestry Corporation has approved logging to proceed in East Boyd/Timbillica and Yambulla State Forests. This approval has been based on harvesting plans developed before the bushfires.
The practice of logging and burning and logging and burning has, over the last 50 years since woodchipping began, produced a fire-prone, even-aged forest with fewer tree species.
In the wake of the fires that raged through this explosive forest, retained habitat trees, large trees and standing "stag" trees were destroyed. What remains is a forest of small diameter trees that is under severe stress as it struggles to recover. This degraded forest means less habitat for animals to survive. That means more animals moving closer to extinction. Enough. It is time to put nature first and end native forest logging now.
Richard Barcham, Candelo
Violation of our heritage
The replacement of the Cuttagee wooden bridge represents a high-handed Sydney-centric violation of the heritage, aesthetic and environmental values of this unique area. The $11.5million price tag could help to provide adequate funding for mental health services, new housing and environmentally sensitive employment opportunities.
Edward Hills, Akolele
Leisure spot lost forever
I think it is important to point out that Cuttagee bridge is currently used by families as a shade area while using the lake to swim. A two-lane concrete bridge would destroy this valuable tourist asset.
Who wants to swim and picnic under what amounts to a freeway overpass. A larger bridge would allow higher speed traffic and larger trucks, and what is currently a beautiful balance between road and leisure would be lost forever.
Gray Ramsey, Bermagui
Direct funding to new route
Spending millions constructing a concrete bridge that can oxidise and corrode is not the answer to a section of road access to communities (as well as a scenic route for visitors) that in a couple of decades will be inaccessible due to global warming-induced sea level rise. Funding should instead go towards planning necessary re-routing of sections of the Tathra to Bermagui Rd.
The NSW government should also ensure that regional shire councils have enough funds for care and maintenance of roads and bridges and replace all the axed National Park staff and begin to care for and maintain our natural assets, currently left to increasingly burn to a crisp due to lack of maintenance as well as government negligence by not legislating for drastic decrease in carbon emissions. Our people along the eastern seaboard are living in a constant state of anxiety about so many crucial life resources, most particularly our natural systems, due to incompetence at all levels of government.
Karen O'Clery, Chinnock
Win for seniors
I wrote last week advising that Woolworths fuel outlets were not accepting Seniors Travel Card combined with the Rewards card four cent discount. After a phone call to their head office I am pleased to inform that this decision has now been reversed and RSTC can be used to purchase fuel in conjunction with the four cent discount.
