One can almost imagine these literary luddites dancing naked around a bonfire in a good old fashion book burning. But then it has become an all too common habit of the Bega Valley Shire Ratepayers and Residents Association (or the four people who make up their committee) to oppose every initiative of private enterprise and local government. 

You name it, from libraries, hotel redevelopment, airport redevelopment, retail development and cruise ships they seem to see any development as some form of devil worship that must be burnt at the stake. In fact I've never heard of them supporting anything but their own view of the world. Nor have I heard them put forward a solution to anything.

The BVSRRA continue with the fallacy that council fails to elicit public comment on proposed works when nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone who can pick up a newspaper or can surf the web knows what the council is up to, and, if interested, can make an objection or support as they see fit.

The BVSRRA also lacks transparency when a member of their committee (Judy Geary) publishes comments (RE: Bunnings/Rezoning issue April 22 Merimbula News) to quell any dissenting voice of the BVSRRA under the guise of a concerned citizen.

I could do the same and convince my friends to support my opinions under the cloak of independent thought, but frankly I've got more integrity than that, and so should the BVSRRA.

And while I empathise with the BVSRRA's disgust at local government waste I can only deplore their incessant negativity. As the old American western saying goes - you can't stop progress. Luddites of all persuasions are destined to fall by the wayside like typewriters and milk bar's and Kodak film and...

Scott Buckingham 

Tura Beach