I do understand the implications of running at a financial loss. However, 2020 was an extraordinary year - and further, what would be the costs of replacement facilities? Or are we just going to do without a library, a function centre, and council staff?

I fully endorse the views of a previous writer who stated that the Bega Civic Centre is out of reach in price for potential local users. We would certainly grow as a community if the cost of hiring the facility was more affordable.

Tunnel under the Brown? In comparison a 14km tunnel cost over $14billion in Sydney. Furthermore, Bega council misplaced $12million? Dream on councillors. No-one in their right mind would allow you to have any say on this.

I agree with Mr Fitzpatrick. I would like to see a permanent reliable road from Canberra to Bega and beyond.

Brown Mt is a major road and access to the coast and return to Canberra and the snowy regions. Often there is no accessibility to these areas.

The road has millions of dollars spent on it in repairs. And just like a bandaid slips off and becomes useless. Why are we spending tax payers money on a road that is in constant repair.

There are over 40,000 people in the Bega area - aren't we worth a workable road?

There's also limited public transport, which is often fully booked and people have to wait up to five days to return home or visit. Poor road makes a huge reluctance in travelling to the South Coast.

Where will the money come from?

I have been telling friends in recent times, with my tongue very firmly planted in my cheek, that my solution for Brown Mountain was to grab a couple of the big borers from Sydney when they have finished undermining it and drill straight up through the escarpment.

Little did I think that this off-the-wall idea would receive any serious consideration from the powers that be.

However, I am a great believer in visionary thinking by governments and actions to suit. The Snowy Mountains Scheme was just such and I suspect that many thought it couldn't be done.

This plan if ever carried out would liberate our producers and businesses from a permanent straitjacket on their activities and boost business activity and tourism alike.

I commend the Bega Valley Council for putting this on the agenda.

Time for the Far South Coast to upgrade Brown Mountain to Snowy River/Albury-Wodonga as a major infrastructure project - a nation builder.

The Nerriga/Braidwood/Goulburn Road is far superior. Joanna Gash organised $90m federal funding over the past decade to build this excellent highway. Much better than Clyde, Kangaroo Valley, Jamberoo, Moss Vale or Macquarie Pass roads.

While attending Inveralochy College Goulburn in the 1960s I was fearful of BMR every term, on sporting trips and visits to local shows.

Time for Australia to get management savvy. Billions of dollars wasted on Job Seeker and Finder grants which did little more than soften the pride of a once-called lucky country. Finders keepers if 30 of our top 100 ASX companies got enough to build a road from Darwin to Brisbane.

I am sure the FSC deserves a highway rather than a goat track. Look 10 years down the track. 150,000 new pensioners every year Australia wide. The same number coming onto the dole as JobKeeper ends in 2021.

The demographics of this sharp shift in population base, indicates that 80% of these tourists will travel from the tablelands to the coast on a regular basis. That is 250,000 new tourists every year. Eighty-five per cent live in the South East corner of Australia. A new highway is needed for Tilba/Bodalla - Queanbeyan/Canberra/Yass region.

Modern day engineering (China style) would take $45m off. Think a tunnel and a South Coast rail line.

I would like to have your personal support for an idea that I wish to have supported by your media outlets, and your personal backing as well.

As an Australian of colour, having lived in our country for over 40 years, I am very concerned that our nation's race relations are getting worse and not better.

And because this situation isn't getting better, but instead getting worse, I desire your support in establishing 2021 as the year to positively enact legislation at all levels of our nation's government to designate 2021 as the Australian Year of Inclusion and the elimination of any and all forms of racial, religious, age, and cultural discrimination that currently exist within our great nation.