CCTV needed at sea pool
Following an abhorrent incident at the Ulladulla sea pool last Thursday night and a history of senseless vandalism at the site, I believe it is time to install CCTV monitoring. It only needs to operate when the pool is closed.
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If council doesn't have the necessary funds I am sure locals would raise whatever was needed to protect this iconic and treasured amenity. I am more than happy to put my money where my mouth is and make a donation.
J. Roberts, Ulladulla
Climate common sense
Thank you to B. Tompkinson, Little Forest, for some common sense about climate change (Untruths Don't Help, 2nd October). There is so much emotional rubbish about, by people who know nothing about climatology or meteorology, yet hold strong opinions on the subject ! Not to mention the politicians who defend points of view on matters they know nothing about for fear the science will destroy the income from their investments. The facts are the facts and it was refreshing to hear them so clearly. Thank you again.
V. Barnes, Ulladulla
Penalties out of line
People will face more time in jail for peaceful protest than for grievous bodily harm if the government's Right to Farm Bill becomes law. The bill provides for three-year prison terms for protesters while the penalty for permanently or seriously disfiguring another person is a maximum of two years. Is this really the sort of society the Coalition Government wants us to become?
Under this proposal people as diverse as Wallaby great David Pocock and the knitting nannas could go to jail for making their point peacefully and democratically. The government claims these dangerous laws are needed to protect farmers from trespassers, but the law already has those safeguards.
The irony is that farmers may have the most to lose. Farmers have led campaigns to save the Pilliga and the Bentley region from coal seam gas and the Hunter, Bylong Valley, Gloucester Valley and the Liverpool Plains from coal.
The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and must not be thrown away for political expediency.
C. Gambian, NSW Nature Conservation Council
Council needs oversight
Throughout the world it is common practice those nations with three levels of government mandate for state government oversight and control of the local level. This helps overcome the often narrow and parochial view of local councillors responding to their support base without recognition or understanding of the bigger issues.
And throughout the world you would be hard pressed to find a better justification for this state government oversight than Shoalhaven City Council and Cr Greg Watson. Both the institution and the man are regularly convinced of the superiority of their intellect and their local knowledge that overrides national or international concerns.
We see this in council's approach to climate change. This has drawn on support from an American climate change denial organisation and a group of local property owners with land values (and water views) to protect. This allowed the truly amazing decision that climate change will not impact Shoalhaven to the extent that other areas have planned for.
And we see this in Cr Watson's tirade against the planning minister who pointed out that council's 45-degree rule for tree removal may have "perverse outcomes". Uninvited views that do not support the local position are routinely dismissed, regardless of the expertise involved.
Tthe real pity is that successive state governments' and ministers have been reluctant to take action against Shoalhaven City Council. Or Cr Watson.