Fishers Not Hooked On Park Plan

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday September 5, 2006

CLAIMS by Cameron Westaway that the majority of submissions favour the Batemans Marine Park are misleading, (Public backs marine park - Manager, Mercury, August 26).

The Marine Park Authority has received barely 160 submissions and it is inappropriate for a supposedly neutral public servant to comment on trends at this stage.

There has been no public consultation as to whether the local community wanted a marine park. This phase of the consultative process was abandoned to ensure past promises to the Greens were implemented in time for the next state election. Subsequently, two public meetings held at Batemans Bay and Narooma attracted 900 people. They unanimously passed a motion of no confidence in the MPA and overwhelmingly rejected the marine park.

The current phase of the public consultation process relates to restrictions proposed for the park. Fishers usually withhold their submissions until the last minute for a variety of reasons.

Apart from their desire to glean as much information as possible before forming a view, they inherently distrust the consultation process.

Of the 6325 submissions received regarding zoning of the Cape Byron Marine Park, 6000 opposed restrictions. These submissions were independently registered and delivered to the MPA during the last hour of the three-month process as a safeguard against manipulation.

I trust that this Labor Government will trumpet the final response to their restrictions as enthusiastically as they manipulated the preliminary results.

- ROD BURSTON,

NSW Fishing Clubs Association,

Kiama Downs.

Greens to blame

MANY recreational anglers aren't opposed to marine parks.

What they object to is being locked out of them through marine sanctuaries. This is the same as not being allowed to have access to national parks.

Parks are for people to enjoy their natural features. Limiting the use of marine parks by recreational anglers serves no purpose.

Angling is an activity enjoyed by the whole family and has been shown in numerous studies to have little impact on the environment or the marine biodiversity.

Recent articles in the Mercury outline the controversy around the marine park issue. It is the political bargaining power of the Green movement however, that is seeking to lock anglers out rather than any credible argument.

What a shame that this Government allows the wishes of a few to hold sway at the expense of the pleasure of many.

- KEN GORDON,

Woonona.

Hands off our pools

LOCKING up the council pools until 8am has to be opposed.

It will deprive the morning swimmers of an activity that is a part of the culture of Wollongong.

On this one the bean counters in the council have got to be told to butt out!

The morning swim is the best starter for the day, enjoyed by workers and pensioners alike, we cannot let them destroy it.

On this one we have to get off our bums and stop them!

It not only will deprive many of us of one of the greatest pleasures life offers, it counters the advice by health authorities to keep fit. Swimming is a leading health activity, widely recognised and recommended by every fitness authority.

Recognised by everybody, it seems, but the bean counters who advise our planners. Planners who are concerned with a city of high-rise buildings and facilities for cars, where people seem to come a long last.

- REG WILDING,

Wollongong.

'Biased' war view

I REFER to the article "We Should Oppose Israeli Occupation" by Jess Moore, in IQ supplement, August 29, 2006.

As a regular reader of your paper, I was very surprised that such a confused, unclear, venomous and biased item was published in one of the best educational supplements.

If Hezbollah returned the captured Israeli soldiers, I am sure the Israeli government would not have declared war on southern Lebanon - the bastion of another state.

A few days ago the leader of Hezbollah stated that, "if he knew what was coming", he never would have approved the kidnapping of the soldiers.

As a student of history I followed this tragic conflict and it appears there was no clear winner. However, the Israelis achieved one major strategic result - "Hezbollah would never again exist as a state within state" and Lebanon could become the second democratic country in the Middle East.

- JACK STEIN,

Coogee.

Time to go solar

A CRAZY world with crazy politicians. If you think agent orange and asbestos is crook, wait until the grim facts of the atomic age are known.

Children are the true victims of this era. The politicians know very little about gene mutations and the half life of radioactive substances.

The background radiation is jumping due to more than 2000 test bombs, more than 100 atomic power stations, Hiroshima, Chernobyl plus accidents.

The Aboriginals knew all about sick country and the human race could go like the dinosaurs.

Dr Helen Caldicott, a child specialist, knows about the damage being done to kiddies.

Go solar, Professor Albert has developed a new solar cell five times cheaper and efficient than the old ones.

- NOEL CARR,

Darkes Forest.

Nuclear best bet

WHO is Brian Johnson of Gymea, (Mercury letters, August 31) to talk about democracy?

Because a lunatic fringe of the deep Green left wing don't want a nuclear reactor anywhere, Brian seems to think that in a democracy their crazy ideas should be given precedence.

If the voters were given the facts there would be few who would rather see the use of coal as our major power source than safe, pollution-minimum nuclear power. Only the ill-informed would try to limit nuclear developments while accepting the toxic, radioactive waste from existing coal-burning facilities.

The radioactive waste from coal may far exceed that likely from nuclear reactors.

Why do some fringe groups worry about what might happen if we go down the nuclear road, instead of the terrible environmental consequences if we don't?

- COLIN LEVY,

Albion Park.

© 2006 Illawarra Mercury

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