Our history
“The persistent misunderstanding and misrepresentation of how and when our national history began is not so much a function of lost chapters as selective reading… If we broaden our gaze, our story will get bigger. But we will also have to cope with an incomplete picture. Yet this larger complexity can still help us to address the many concerns of our present… It compels us to look at broader historical processes than the ‘discovery-then-settlement’ triumphalist children’s tale we have been fed for several generations, and to develop a more inclusive understanding of our collective past and path.”
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Nick Brodie: ‘1787 The lost Chapters of Australia’s Beginnings’.
Bernard Lagarenne, Merimbula
Lakewood Drive DA
The Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association (BVSRRA) was asked to contact council regarding the Lakewood Drive DA (2013.2017 – Lot 172, DP 1157144), Merimbula.
The association understands that only immediate neighbours were advised by council in a letter dated January 9 that the DA was on public exhibition for 14 days but a number of them are currently away on holidays.
The Association has attempted to view the Development Application on Council’s website on a number of occasions over the past few days however, the Development Application was not among the 10 applications on display.
The DA for a 15 lot residential development, which is adjacent to Top Lake, while its front boundary is above runs parallel to the boardwalk has not been available through the DA Tracker on council’s website .
The association believes that the timing of the application, coupled with the period of public exhibition nominated by Council, together with the breadth of the notifications issued, is inadequate for a number of important reasons, namely:
As everyone is aware, the period from early December to late January is holiday season, with many residents travelling away to visit family or to take a break from their normal routine. With numerous festivities acting to distract public attention, together with the fact that local newspapers are closed, means that DAs placed on public exhibition at this time attract little attention.
The development has the potential to negatively impact Top Lake through storm water run-off, thereby affecting the public amenity of the lake: a concern that we would argue extends well beyond the immediate neighbours.
The Development has the potential to negatively impact the operations of the commercial oyster leases within the vicinity of the land however, the Association understands that the owners of those leases were not notified of this exhibition period. We believe at best that this is unhelpful & at worst is simply irresponsible, while doing little to instil public confidence in Council’s processes.
The general public using the Boardwalk will be affected by the residential development should it proceed, with their enjoyment of the natural environment negatively impacted by the erection of medium density housing in close proximity above the Boardwalk. We believe that the general public should be made aware of the application through the local media & afforded an opportunity to respond.
The inability of the community to examine the details of the application on Council’s website has acted to reduce the ability of interested parties to assess the application, while impeding the ability of interested parties to prepare thorough & informed submissions in a timely fashion.
In the circumstances, the association believes that the exhibition period should be extended and it should be more widely advertised.
John Richardson, Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association
