We currently have a bumper season of Victorian tourists enjoying our pristine coast and now the burning has commenced. 

There needs to be a balance between hazard reduction and the need for the tourist industry to have our area presented at its best. 

How do we move forward to ensure that this compromise becomes a permanent agreement?

Pauline Armstrong

Merimbula 

More contempt from SERH and Andrew Constance for residents living outside Bega, nice photo opportunity last week at new hospital but re bus service, we have a commitee working on this and there will be two additional daily services at weekends. Not good enough

Beverley Mcdowell, Pambula

How comforting it is to have the hazard reduction burns taking place around the district at the moment. Many thanks to all those volunteers and workers undertaking these vital protection measures, far better some small inconvenience now compared to wildfires in summer. The autumn window of opportunity has been well utilised.

John Dawson, Millingandi

 I used to read letters in the Albury newspapers during the 1980s and 90s regarding smoke from hazard reduction burns (HRB) effecting tourism. Of particular concern was the effect of smoke on the Bright (Victoria) autumn festival.

As a result of declining numbers of forest management staff, public pressure and politics, the amount of HRB declined.  Ironically, in 2003/03, one million hectares of native forest in north east Victoria was incinerated by wildfires.

North east Victoria was shrouded in smoke for 60 consecutive days and due to danger from the fires, tourist numbers plummeted.  Consequently, some tourist operators closed temporarily and others closed permanently due to financial failure or being burnt out. So no HRB can be a double edged sword.

Perhaps the biggest losers where the estimated 370 million birds, mammals and reptiles that were incinerated along with the forests.

Peter Rutherford, Merimbula 

I was dismayed to read that Mike Kelly did not receive an official invitation for the opening of the new hospital. 

Mike played a key role in obtaining the bulk of the funding for the hospital at the time he was the member for Eden-Monaro.  

It seems churlish and rather petty therefore not to invite him for this important occasion.

When you consider how critical the new hospital has been for our community and the enormous effort many have made to ensure this happens, it would be nice to think that such key events do not become politically driven but rather an occasion for those from all parties to celebrate this success.  

Jacqui Jaffrey, Eden

If you are tearing your hair out wondering what to do to entertain your children and grandchildren during the holidays, I suggest the National Parks & Wildlife Discovery program. My grandsons loved the activities when visiting. We found the walks, talks and tours informative, educational and fun and congratulations to Barbara Allgaer and the Discovery team for producing such innovative and adventurous events.

Olwen Morris, Tura Beach