Kosciuszko at risk
The NSW government's intention to legislate for the protection of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park will, if successful, lead to accelerated environmental degradation, particularly in the park's fragile alpine areas. Given that the estimated KNP horse population of 6000 has doubled since 2008 despite ongoing culling, the end of culling together with the lack of any natural predator in the park, will see an explosion in horse numbers. The 2016 Draft Wild Horse Management Plan, now rejected by government, recommended a 90% reduction in horse numbers over 20 years, primarily through culling.
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The Deputy NSW Premier, John Barilaro, has stated that should horse numbers grow too high (implying that a population of 6000 is acceptable) and threaten sensitive areas, resources will be allocated towards “relocation first followed by re-homings”.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has attempted such programs, and has found them to be largely ineffective and prohibitively expensive, with most corralled horses ending up at the abattoir. Moreover, promises of resourcing ring hollow given the cuts in recent years to NPWS programs and personnel, including the slashing of park ranger numbers across NSW from 400 to the current level of around 300.
John Barilaro no doubt perceives political advantage in peddling the Man from Snowy River legend rather than facing up to the difficult decisions required to protect KNP's fragile alpine environment. Meanwhile, the Minister for the Environment, whose job it is to protect KNP, remains strangely silent.
Kim Taysom, vice-president Far South Coast National Parks Association
Aladdin outstanding
Spectrum Theatre Group has done it again - this time with 36 young people from the Merimbula area performing a most wonderful version of Disney's Aladdin Junior.
This show is not just for kids and their parents, or a local school production. It is much, much more. Amber Little the director/choreographer, has managed the huge task of pulling together a cast of 36 young people aged from eight to 18, to present an outstanding production.
It's vibrant, funny and clever, with some of the best costumes ever seen on the stage of Twyford Hall. Well done everyone involved!
Judy Davidson, Millingandi
Time for housing action
Your report of the ‘success’ of the roundtable discussions about the area’s lack of affordable and social housing gives the impression that it was little more than a talkfest with participants simply agreeing there is a need for more affordable and social housing, and perhaps a need for more flexible planning regulation.
The shortage of this type of housing has been obvious for some time, yet nothing is happening with any rapidity to actually provide any of it.
Cr Griff’s proposal, greeted with unanimous support, that council staff earmark land for construction of affordable housing was adopted in December last year, but, six months later, no land has yet been identified! And I discover even the roundtable - which could possibly result in some action - will not reconvene for another three months! It’s time – in fact, over time – for something concrete to happen, for more accommodation to be made available.
I’d argue that future deliberations should focus on housing generally, not just social housing. Let’s rapidly agree on what housing needs to be provided in the Bega Valley Shire over the next 10 to 15 years, for whom, how and where it is to be provided, and how it is to be funded…and then let’s move rapidly to actually start to provide it.
Adding another 100, 500 or even 1000 dwellings in and around Bega that catered for the broadest possible needs of the community, and attracted more residents to the area, would be one of the most positive things that could now happen in the town.
