It is my hope that governments at all levels will think creatively in balancing the very real and immediate need for jobs in the wake of COVID-19 against the loss of habitat for our flora and fauna in the fallout from the recent bushfires. It is barely 5 months since climate change was the hottest topic on everyone's lips and just because it has temporarily fallen off the agenda, does not mean the problem is resolved.

Neither Covid nor climate change is going away in a hurry and the immediate needs created by the pandemic should not be an excuse for unfettered development.

I hope that What may have been acceptable development prior to the bushfires will be thoughtfully reviewed for long term community and environmental benefit before being given the green light to further destruction of habitat or species.

Weighing up those issues is the role of government. I hope our leaders will be visionary and inspired in seeking solutions to our many problems. It is a big ask.

Development is inevitable and a good thing but should not be at any cost.

My wife and I have been greatly saddened to see some of the development in Milton over the past 10 years. It's going the way of Ulladulla and losing its original, small town charm. People choose to visit Milton because it's a charming, historic township. Now we are building more and more modern homes on incredibly small blocks and ruining both the look and the feel of the township. In the last 10 years it has changed immeasurably. Corks Hill has so many homes on small, postage sized blocks, all looking into each other's backyards. We bought in the country because of the natural beauty, the greater sense of space because we wanted to live in a less densely populated town. Now Milton is looking increasingly like Ulladulla which, apart from the beautiful little harbour, is a largely unattractive service centre. I think Milton needs to consider just what sort of future it sees for itself. If you want your residents to enjoy the area and you want to attract tourists you need to preserve both the historic value and the natural beauty of the area; the flora and fauna are as essential to the beauty of the area as are the historic buildings. Certainly, medium density apartment blocks and townhouse complexes are not the way to go unless you want it to look like Chatswood in Sydney.

While I am not a Milton resident, I visit many times every year, and sympathise with Mr Deverall's point of view. I too am not anti-development - there is, for example, a really attractive housing estate on the hillside behind the hospital which I feel has really enhanced the area. However, development in a town where many businesses are heavily dependent on its heritage value for the tourist dollar has to be carefully managed. It is easy enough for council and developers to add a covenant to any contract that any new build has to recognise and be in keeping with of the heritage of the area. This would prevent the building of ugly structures which do nothing to enhance Milton. I totally understand Mr Deverall's concern about what is happening on the other side of his fence. So many people in the Milton-Ulladulla area rely on the tourism dollar for their jobs, and the protection and judicious restoration of all old buildings, not just the "heritage" ones, but those that create that quaint old world feeling in Milton, should be more of a priority than redevelopment. Action against any development adversely affecting the employment of their constituents should be a primary concern of any council.