River mouth incident
In regard to the incident at Pambula river mouth, I witnessed the incident. The first response was actually by three surfers who immediately saw the boat swamped and paddled out to rescue the three occupants. They then brought in two of the distressed occupants to the shore.
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The IRB then picked them up from the other side of the river mouth where they were resting safely. The actual rescue had been completed by then and the three surfers must be highly praised for their quick response. I would appreciate a mention in your letters this week to this effect as I feel their efforts were very much overlooked by Mr Holt claiming recognition when it was not due.
Kim Rixon, New Zealand
Bega TAFE backflip
Why does this state Liberal government insist on wasting taxpayers’ money?
Earlier this year, amid concerns that Bega TAFE was going to be closed and the building sold, assistant Minister for Skills Adam Marshall, and Member for Bega Andrew Constance confirmed the campus would “remain open, operational, educating students in the community” and there were no plans to sell.
Now, following a mind-boggling backflip, they announce that the campus in Barrack St, Bega will close in mid-2021 and instead they will build a new, much smaller, $17million campus next to the $8million Connected Learning Centre that is already under construction.
Mr Constance, why not use the money to enhance the current facilities, which are within walking distance of Bega High School and the University of Wollongong campus?
Since coming into office your government has trashed TAFE NSW, sacking more than 5000 staff and cutting enrolments. If you are serious about doing something about education in the Bega Valley, use our taxes to replace the deficiencies you created in the first place and utilise the building that already exists.
You accused the teacher’s union of fear-mongering and protesting locals of playing games but it seems you were the one playing games and telling outright lies.
Olwen Morris, Tura Beach
Relief at rejection
Great joy and relief for the community comes with the unanimous rejection of the Frogs Hollow Flight School development by the SJRPP. Great thanks must go to Mayor Kristy McBain, the councillors and the hardworking, patient council staff that processed the development application.
It is predictable that the developer would threaten to pursue this through the Land and Environment Court. Like a small dog with a bone, they appear unable to accept the community rejection of their ill-conceived development. The Land and Environment Court is a very expensive and protracted process that would drag on for a few years. Add that numerous appeals can be made against decisions of the Land and Environment Court and the community also has and will exercise that right.
The community is in this for the long haul, we are resourceful, united and very committed. Even in the very unlikely event that the court would overturn the decision of the SJRPP it would be far from over and the land-owner is very unlikely to see a resolve to the sale of his land any time in the next few years, if at all.
Steve Jackson, Bega
- Letters to the editor on any topic of interest are most welcome. Submissions of no more than 300 words can be emailed to ben.smyth@fairfaxmedia.com.au, in person at the News Weekly office on Monaro St, or sent via mail to the address below. All letters must include the author's name and home town for publication and a daytime contact number for verification. Letters may be edited for legal or length reasons and are published at the editor's discretion.