Mr Thomas’s article endorsed the methodology of firestick and seemed in no way an indictment on the good intentions of national parks management. They are, after all, at the mercy of higher powers, which begs the question: Who exactly is approving the cuts to national park funding that, consequently, would see our towns burn to the ground?

It seems the “deluded” Greens he refers to are not true Greens but rather a new breed who, unlike herself, are completely out of touch and who represent the benevolent but sadly naive mentality of a “lock up and leave it” ethos and for all intents and purposes are victims of the current Australian bourgeoisie epidemic; “misinformation”.

These “Neo-Greens” fail to accept that in order to save the forest (that they protest to love so much) you have to be willing to chop down and burn some trees along the way.

What we stand witness to, time and time again, is poorly advised populist politicians who bow to an alarming uprising of idealistic voters and who would exploit this unfortunate case of misinformation, against all evidence based research to the contrary, for political gain.

Ms Goonery’s frustration merely serves to highlight the gaping disconnect between what appears to be a unanimous prescription of what good forest management is and what is actually mandated. Perhaps if enough folk like Mr Thomas from grassroots level raised their voices, we might stand a greater chance of keeping the bastards honest. And actually saving the forests.

Iain Dawson, BVRG director, is quoted as saying, “This is a once in a generation opportunity to deliver an art gallery that is in line with the community’s expectations”. I totally agree and believe it is urgent that we get it right. To me that means looking at the process and redoing some of it.  

I believe that we could have two galleries in the shire, one in Bega that we already fund, and another funded by income from the cruise industry.

All of us need to consider that it is in line with the community’s expectations that the BVRG strategic plan, which runs from 2016 to 2020, should include looking at a new industry bringing large numbers of visitors to the shire. But it doesn’t.

It is also in line with the community’s expectations that an economic research report, supposedly regional, dated June 2017, includes the cruise industry. Again, it doesn’t.

It is as if the cruise industry does not exist. Whether this highly relevant regional information was left out deliberately, or was a blunder, the result is an uninformed decision. The fact that Eden people weren’t given the same chance as others to vote in the location survey makes me think there was no accident.

The fact is that vital information was left out when it came to making a decision about this once in a generation opportunity. The outcome could be very expensive for all ratepayers.

The new gallery will be larger, will have a shop and a café, more staff and more running costs.   If funds for maintenance and running costs don’t come from tourists, ratepayers will foot the bills.

Currrently, BVSC can’t adequately fund tourism promotion and is looking for ways to cut running costs and maintenance everywhere it can.  At the same time BVSC and BVRG are failing to even consider how tourists could contribute to costs. The new gallery may be a big burden on all of us.

The BVRG economic research plan needs to be re-done, this time looking at new opportunities afforded by the cruise industry.   This is a new ball game in Bega Valley Shire.  Instead of ignoring it we need to take look at it and see where the opportunities lie.