Alternative route a priority
It really is necessary for an alternative route to Brown Mountain be looked into. Either that or make freight take an alternative route as they weaken the road preventing necessary journeys for regular visits to the hospital. As an ageing community there is a lot of travelling to and from Canberra. Which proves hazardous at times.
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Mary Hoodless, Eden
Action needed, not words
Bit disappointed not to see one woman in the officials [at Eden Welcome Centre opening]. Not one. Also I believe I could count on both hands and feet and more, how many times the funding for the wave attenuator has been made. Every election going back to 2000 and possibly earlier. Action now I hope.
Wendy Goodisson, Mallacoota
Science being ignored
It is unfortunate that the National Parks Association's concerns about native species (BDN, 28/5) don't translate into support for Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management (ESFM), as defined in the National Forest Policy Statement. Rather the NPA and other conservation groups support Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD), as defined by NSW government agencies.
Unlike ESFM that is based on science, ESD is based on ignoring or misrepresenting science starting with soils. Hence ESD enables traditional forest management practices, particularly clearing and frequent burning that are listed as key threatening processes.
So the NPWS and RFS are happy to clear and light up critically important unburnt areas for koalas, as opposed to understanding the reasons why koalas are there and, as recommended by the bushfire inquiry, why these areas weren't subject to the extreme conditions experienced elsewhere and didn't burn during the 2020 bushfires.
The same applies to the government's inefficient koala surveys, as indicated in the post fire survey report undertaken mostly in Biamanga NP. The outcome is that nothing is learnt because there is no credible scientific basis to build on.
The extinction tipping points for greater gliders and koalas were reached some time ago and they have no hope of survival under ESD. The next tipping point is for people, because a declining environment that cannot support these iconic species is unlikely to support humans, without a significant reduction in the quality of life.
Robert Bertram, Bermagui
Noble causes to support
The environment and reducing humanity's carbon emissions is a notable cause. But surely a more worthy and admirable cause would be to reduce the number of children that die each day because of poverty.
According to Global Issues and UNICEF (2019), 21,000 children five years and under die every day worldwide. A second equally important global issue is that one in every 10 people lacks access to clean drinkable water (World Health Organization, WHO, 2019). Two million people (mainly children) die each year of diarrheal related diseases mainly caused by lack of sanitation of drinking water (World Wildlife Fund WWF, 2019).
We citizens of wealthy countries should care and take action to help solve these urgent issues of poor countries. What use is reduced carbon emissions to those unfortunate children who have no electricity, cars or enough food to be healthy? If you share my concerns, why not financially support organisations who provide food and clean drinking water to the poorer nations of the world?
Jenny Weber, Jellat Jellat
Bring back marine centre
When will the Marine Discovery Centre be re-created? It was a supreme example of a great educational experience for all age groups through its association with the Australian National University and its creative staff.