Eden’s chipmill must not be handed a blank cheque
Federal Liberal MP Peter Hendy has been all but invisible in the electorate, but as soon as the woodchipping industry snapped its fingers after last week’s storms, he dropped everything and went to the chipmill.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The upshot was promises intended to give the impression that the coalition would bail it out.
Any meaningful pre-election financial commitment to the chipmill would be a blank cheque.
Neither Dr Hendy, the chipmill owners nor any of us yet knows the full extent of the damage or has a clear idea of how much might be covered by insurance.
It is highly unlikely that any of us will know before the election.
The woodchipping industry is used to subsidies, but this would have to be one of the biggest.
If public funds are available for disaster relief, they should be for community projects such as restoration of the Tathra Wharf and similar public facilities, not private business, especially when it so controversial.
Perhaps this storm was Mother Nature’s way of saying that 36 million tonnes of woodchips is enough.
Our forests can’t take any more.
Harriett Swift, Chipstop convener
Pride in Bundian trail
Congratulations Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council
I know I speak for many other local residents as I express my congratulations to all those involved in the planning and construction of the awesome Bundian Way Story Trail from Quarantine Bay to Cocora Beach.
Featuring stunning recycled timber and an impressive and sturdy structure, the resilience of which has been ultimately tested by the recent rainstorm, it is a huge asset to our region and complements our stunning and pristine coastline beautifully.
I look forward to many walks on the Bundian Way that I will be proud to take visitors on whilst also looking forward to the next leg. Well done.
Carol Ahern, Nethercote
No place for cruelty
It is so nice that children are wanting to save brumbies from cruelty.
Even though they are feral, and are doing much damage to alpine areas, no animal should be cruelly treated. Even euthanasing can be stress free.
Sadly, the proposed Changes to NSW Biodiversity and Conservation Laws will involve cruelty on a very large scale.
If these changes are accepted, millions of native animals of all kinds will have their homes smashed and may themselves be bulldozed into the ground or be horrifically injured or burnt in log piles.
Taking just one example: the largest possum in this area, the exquisite and gentle Greater Glider, gives up and lets itself be killed when the hollow tree in which it lives is felled. These millions of native animals will die quietly, unseen.
Instead of clearing more precious native forest, we could work to restore land that has been degraded by years of bad farming.
The body pushing for these changes to the Native Vegetation Act 2003 is the NSW Farmers Association which only represents a tiny minority of farmers.
Most farmers are now aware of the value of native wildlife and are working to save what we have left. Many farms are now our most valuable conservation areas.
We have until June 28 to give our submissions/opinions to the NSW government.
Potoroo Palace Native Animal Sanctuary staff
Disappointing
It's disappointing that Fairfax Media is able to identify the man accused of sexual harassment but the person who supplied the information to the paper can remain anonymous.
Maggie Benjamin, Merimbula
