These great creatures are called whales.

Swimming in the sparkling sea,

Big as big could possibly be.

They may not be like us and walk,

But they have a fascinating talk.

They're elegant, perfect and sweet,

That no other animal could beat.

To conclude, it is honestly true,

That whales are good and this poem is through!

Thanks to Deputy Premier John Barilaro and his sidekick Andrew Constance for once again demonstrating their government's contempt for South Coast communities.

While the Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association (BVSRRA) accepts there are those in our community who believe any development is good development, there are many others who question development for its own sake.

Mr Barilaro dishonestly claims that the “TAFE NSW Regional Connected Learning Centre" proposed for the old Bega hospital site "has been designed to be adapted to suit the demands of the community".

How can that be Mr Bailaro when, after three years of often secret discussions and no community consultation, no-one has actually spelled-out what a "connected learning centre" is, let alone what it is intended to achieve?

How is it Mr Bailaro that "specific details of the new-age campus are still being considered" when Andrew Constance committed significant funding for the project more than two years ago and a DA has already been submitted to council?

Having shelled-out $2million to create a serviced office facility in Merimbula, a grandly-named white elephant called the Bega Valley Regional Learning Centre, residents and ratepayers can surely only wonder what kind of elephant the even more grandly named $5million TAFE NSW Regional Connected Learning Centre will actually turn-out to be.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro has reached out to his Federal Nat colleagues with a plan to rehome Barnaby into the Kosciuszko National Park.

Mr Barilaro said: “I ask the House to picture this image: a beautiful stallion running wild and free, his muscles bulging with strength. When he stands up on his back legs one is overcome by his grace and power. There is nothing quite like seeing a Barnaby in the wild. It is an absolute thrill.”

The proposal comes after National Party plans to cull Barnaby from his New England habitat were revealed.

Conservationists have condemned the plan, stating that Wild Barnabys are likely to breed up. A spokesperson stated the Barnaby had caused incredible damage in Canberra and New England and there was a real risk from the spread of wild oats in our sensitive alpine areas.

We are now having to deal with the consequences that deer in the past were classed as game and not pest. At last deer have, in our district, been added to the pest list, but it is probably too late for eradication. 

Again we are faced with the issue of the brumbies and the argument by some that they should be protected for heritage reasons. Rabbits, foxes, and pigs, for example, could be classed as heritage as they were all introduced by European settlers for a particular reason, ignorant of the effect on the natural environment. 

Aerial culling is regarded as the most humane and effective method employed to date. Environmental and not political decisions should be made in dealing with non native animals before they get to this stage. It seems it is always too late!