Although no potoroos have ever been sighted in this area, Greenist activists are still arguing for retaining potential “potoroo habitat”, totally dismissing what makes for a good quality of “human habitat”.

What a wonderful part of the world we live in. 

Our climate is temperate without the energy sapping humidity of Sydney or the scorching hot summer days of Melbourne of Canberra.

Those of us lucky enough to live in Tura Beach are at the intersection of residential development and natural beauty. I feel privileged to be able to sit on my verandah and watch a goanna more than a metre long slowly climb the upright supports and then hear it click clack across the roof. Or to see a wombat curled up in a sheltered sunny spot sleeping the day away (though I wish it would stop digging holes). Or to walk around the corner of the house to find a kangaroo munching on the grass (I’ve given up on roses, they appear to be a gourmet treat).

While I recognise the kangaroos that I see eating the grass on the vacant lots on Bournda Circuit when I walk my dog will soon be exiled to other areas as these privately owned blocks are sold and built on, I feel it is essential that the council/Crown owned land must be protected as a sanctuary for our wildlife.

The BVSC Site Management Plan (SMP) for The Point and Dolphin Cove attempts to provide this sanctuary. Legally the council must act in accordance with their plan of management and the designation of the area concerned as “Natural Area Bushland”. The SMP provides for an all weather access path, provision for emergency vehicle access and the need to enhance and maintain the natural vegetation. 

I choose not to live in a city or a town because of the natural beauty I can access here. We must do all we can to ensure that our children and grandchildren will also be able to live in Tura Beach and  see goannas, wombats, kangaroos, echidnas, and if they are lucky a long nosed potoroo.

The BVSC has prepared an excellent Site Management Plan, it should be fully implemented.

How can Labor's Mike Kelly justify confiscating an average of $1521 a year ($30 a week) from 9000 self-funded retirees and part-pensioners in Eden-Monaro? That's just an average, some could lose up to $100 week, if Labor Leader Bill Shorten's latest policy bombshell takes effect.

Refund of franking credits under dividend imputation will have been law for nearly 20 years by the time of the next federal election. Hard-working Australians have made it part of their retirement planning for a decent income, so they won't have to rely on the old-age pension. Every day, 400 Australians turn 75. But Mr Shorten wants to raid their superannuation for his election promise piggybank. This is on top of taking away capital gains tax concessions, abolish negative gearing, probably abolish the private health insurance rebate and bring back taxation of self-managed super fund income.

Shifting the goal posts on low-income retirees who don't pay tax, but rely on this refund, is not only fundamentally discriminatory, disheartening and infuriating but it betrays the battlers in Labor's own heartland. Low-income retirees facing this serious loss might as well spend what's left on a cruise or a caravan and go on the pension. Is that good policy?