We need to slow down
As a long time resident in Ulladulla and now Milton, I am extremely concerned with the speed limit through our two towns.
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I am more concerned with Ulladulla, with a 60km/h speed limit presently. Many a time I have waited at our traffic lights to cross. Cars coming from the south at the top of our town and approaching these lights do tend to speed up to avoid stopping.
I have in the past been standing beside unaccompanied children where the slightest movement onto the road would be disastrous. I hope that brining this to your attention may help the speed limit through our twons be reduced to a possible 40km/h zone, as we have around our schools now.
G. Sharp, Milton
Way of life threatened
It could be argued that the presence of hooded plover and its continued but fragile breeding success is a symbol of the character of Bendalong, Berringer, Manyana and Cunjurong villages. The simple reason for this is that the survival of both the plover and the village way of life relies on a lack of homo sapiens; a small population.
The hooded plover is all but extinct in most heavily populated areas and the villages' favoured way of life is rapidly going the same way. Signs of this decline are evident. Where families once casually and carelessly roamed the streets and beaches and bush without fear or favour their tranquillity is now disturbed by an upsurge in regulatory signage and the highly destructive presences of developers.
The deep feelings for the village life is reflected in many ways. Many feel it is their spiritual home. This is reflected in the commemorative plaques scattered along the beaches, even hidden in the scrub on the shores of Lake Conjola. In the early morning light it is common for solitary figures or small groups to be seen gazing at the sea quietly welcoming the coming day. It is quiet. Afternoons can see small groups of villagers meeting and sharing conversation and a beer. It is quiet.
However others in the community are more proactive and their actions tell us they feel ignored by councils and governments. Developers have entered the village. Subdivisions have been approved and is clear to them that this is the beginning of the end of the old village life. Their only recourse is destroying the developers' signs as fast as they appear. Almost certainly the whole situation will also coincide with the demise of the hooded plover.
The environmental and social destruction caused by these subdivisions is extraordinary. In a state with one of the worst environmental records in the developed world every tree and bush is of paramount importance. Socially it will be the beginning of the end of the old village life. More and more regulatory signs will be erected, streets will be congested and beaches crowded, accompanied by increasing social problems.
The priceless gift the villages have is the surrounding national park and Lake Conjola. Until now, this was secured by relatively inconvenient access roads and the distance from main centres of employment. Being at the focus of these national parks means many birds and animals stumble into to our area. Our streets are filled with kangaroos and birds proliferate. The bush harbours endangered or depleted native birds, mammals, monotremes, trees and shrubs. Most of this life is in sharp decline. Any land clearing only adds to their decline.
The solution to the issues is clear. However, the plethora of verbiage (excessively lengthy or technical speech or writing) mounted by councils and governments not only is extremely difficult for most people to navigate, but also favours development.
So to preserve the villages at the focus of such important preservation areas as these they should be provided with special protection. A severe limit should be placed on residential development and careful consideration given to any infrastructure changes.