The tone of the insulting letter from North Tura Beach Resident’s Association president Jon Gaul indicates clearly that this organisation has no respect for Tura residents who care about our natural environment and who wish to have it protected now and for future generations.

Nor do they respect local government officials, such as director planning and environment Andrew Woodley and councillors who administer the laws and regulations covering environmental issues. Even the facilitator engaged by council was insulted in Gaul’s letter.

As advertised in the flyer distributed by council, Tura Head Coastal Reserve was the subject to be discussed at the listening post and the land management workshop. The flyer made no mention of NTBRA, but posed the question:  “What do you value about the Tura Coastal Reserve”, and this was the subject that community members discussed.

There were equally unpleasant insults for the local Tura conservation group Living with Nature, who are described as “devoid of ethics”. This group of concerned local residents did not stack the library meeting with greenies. Those who may have come from far afield, came because they too, care about the coastal environment. 

Regarding councils Tura Headland Coastal Reserve Workshop and Listening Post at Tura Marrang Library, council advised it would judge community views based on the roll-up. Of great concern to the North Tura Beach Residents Association (NTBRA), representing more than 70 paid up local members, was the “rent–a–crowd” from as far away as Mallacoota and other places in Victoria as well as Tathra, Lochiel, Nethercote and Pambula.   

Common ground was found, particularly to improve access to the Tura Beach stairs by means of all weather and wheelchair suitable paths wide enough to allow for emergency vehicles and egress from bushfire danger should there be a front approaching from the adjoining Bournda National Park.  

Council stated that it would not effect any improvements to the “unsightly” (taken from the greens pamphlet) regrowth areas particularly as no funding is available and such action is not considered in current management plans.   

NTBRA have offered a private-public partnership (PPP) approach to manage the areas and believe that given a council partnership, grant funding could be sought so that ratepayers funds are not touched.   

NTBRA recognises that some council staff are compromised from their activity with the conservation groups and knows that only by support of the shire’s councillors, who may direct actions of council, can it achieve the result desired by the large majority of north Tura Beach Residents:

Slash the areas of low height and fire risk unsightly regrowth (not established trees) in the area Zoned RE1 Public Recreation which lies inland from the Crown Coastal Reserve, replant as required to preserve any wildlife corridor, upgrade main tracks to all weather wheelchair usable status ensuring there is room for emergency vehicles.