Sent to Mr Green 8/2/10
greenp@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au
Mayor Green
I am writing to you in reference to a letter sent by one of the followers of the “Friends of lake Tabourie” [see attached] I am wondering why you have not responded or at least acknowledged receipt of the email and look forward to your reply. I would also like to bring to your attention our blog site http://laketabourie.blogspot.com an internet forum we created that provides a platform for concerned residence and regular visitors to air their concerns in relation to the deteriorating condition of the lake. The site has only been operational since Australian day and is gaining momentum daily, it would seem there is a large portion of your constitutes that feel they are being grossly mislead and misrepresented in regard to the responsible parties for the caretaking, well being and maintenance of Lake Tabourie.
I am sure you would be familiar with the objectives and mandate of the “Lakes, Rivers and Estuaries Management Policy” prepared by State Government under which local Council are required to maintain these assets and halt degradation. This certainly is not happening, Council may very well be throwing money at the lake but, what is being done is not preserving status quo or halting and degradation - the lake is worsening by the day. Council by their own admission, have been recording the declining conditions of the lakes since 1997 - 13 years ago. One would think that after 13 years we would be fairly close to being on top of the program. So far the little amount of money being spent has being is primarily on study after study, seems duck shoving at best. These assets are a valuable resource to the community, but are treated with what can only be described as contempt. I appreciate Council needs funding support from the State Government but, noted is the lack of pressure / attention in a timely fashion to acquire or manage the acquisition and budgeting of the needed funds. After all the management plan was drafted back 1997, 13 years to petition funding or budget for the expense, what went wrong?
I also appreciate the fact that these ecosystem are sensitive are we should not simply bulldozer a track, however, the objective and mandate of the lakes, rivers and estuaries management policy requires Council to maintain these assets and halt degradation. Council have implemented a flood management plan, a questionable point - we have sanctioned intervention when it is convenient to us in the name of flood control, to prevent damage to property. If the argument is such that the shoaling of the lakes is a natural part of the lakes cycle then we should not interfere with raising water level either. The flood plain that exist now is massive due to the extremely high sand build up across the entrance, why simply apply some common sense and under the maintenance plan remove this sand, lowering the dam wall as such in the name of flood control, from there mother nature may very well take over and break through flushing the lake.
Under the current circumstances do you not think a biannual review is a little long in the tooth, especially in the planning process should Council not be more proactive and concerned about these resources. I noted that at a recent meeting held on the 2nd February 2010 by the “Crown reserve community and commercial operations committee” the Far South Natural Resource & Floodplain Management Committee was not directly involved, why would they not be informed and represented at a meeting, after all this committee was set up and devoted to the development and implementation of the Estuaries Management Plan as required by State Government.
Contrary to your comment about climbing on Coaches and heading off to Government house in order to petition them into action – the lake is Councils responsibility, however, I have written to the HON Tony Kelly pointing out the poor condition of the lake and the lack of attention as required under the Lakes, Rivers and Estuaries Management Policy laid out by the State Government.
The Lake Tabourie Tourist Park has heavy bookings for the Easter period were we plan to hand out fliers and bring to the 2-3 thousand visitors, [regular and migratory] attention, the blog site so that should they wish to air their concerns they can do so either directly on the blog site or direct to the representatives of Council listed in the flier, I hope in the mean time we have enlisted your support moving forward.
I look forward to your acknowledgement of this email and your future support.
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Copy of the letter sent by Ruth to Mayor Green posyed my M Pawson
ReplyDeleteDear Mayor,
I am compelled to write in relation to a recent interview with 2ST where you indicated there was nothing that Council could do in regards to the state of the lakes at Tabourie and Burrill due to it being a State Gov responsibility and that perhaps we should organize a couple of coaches to march on Government House.
I have always been of the opinion that Local Council was elected to LOOK AFTER THE INTERESTS of the Municipality and it’s RESIDENTS.
If my understanding is correct, why it is that residents, business owners and other interested parties should be required to undertake the march on government house? Surely it is the Council’s responsibility to represent the concerns of these parties to the NSW Government and keep pushing for assistance until a result is received. I would like to make the following points as a long term visitor (more than 20 years, my partner more than 40 yrs) to Lake Tabourie and surrounds:
Council derives income from the Ratepayers, Business Owners and Tourists:
Ratepayers of Tabourie deserve to be represented by Council to the appropriate authorities to get something done with regards to the lake and it’s estuaries that they live on. A number of these people probably paid good money for their homes and land when the Lake was in its full glory and it is now the 4th cheapest area to live within NSW? What has this cost your ratepayers in loss of value for their homes?
Business Owners are a source of income to the Council and those we have spoken to have indicated a much reduced trade this holiday season. For example, Burrill Lake Newsagency, Totally Board etc. Some might put this down to the global economy and this may be true in part however there are a number of people that now find it cost effective to go overseas given the AUS$ has become attractive again, others that we know of personally are not coming south due to the state of some Parks and Lakes. What is the reduction in trade doing to the Businesses that are paying you for rates and services?
Council earns significant revenue from the Holiday Parks within the Shoalhaven. There are a number of long term campers that have decided not to return as the facilities are not of a standard for the site costs they are paying. Some did not return this year, others are not returning next year. A number of Casual Occupiers would sell if the Council would allow them to. The Lake was the draw card for this Park, however the Lake no longer exists – it is a stinking piece of water that had diminished in size and even if the water was of a good quality, there is not enough depth to swim and much is covered in algae and has been for the last couple of years despite what has been reported as being ‘recent algae bloom’. I might point out that the website and brochures could be classed as false advertising and if I had elected to come for a holiday based on what is shown on the website, I would be extremely angry. Are the Casual Occupiers and Campers not entitled to have Council represent their interests to the NSW Gov given the income that is being derived from them or do we not rate as we are not voters?
In summary, instead of passing the buck, it is the responsibility of Council to lobby NSW Government to obtain the required funds to make this once beautiful region a premier tourist destination once again. The Buck stops with YOU and your Council.
Best regards,
Ruth
Mayor Green's responce to Ruth's letter, received 5/2/10, posted by M Pawson.
ReplyDeleteDid he really answer the question, read for yourself.
Dear Ms Thompson
Management of Lakes
Thank you for your email dated 21st January 2010. In response to your concerns related to Council’s responsibilities for the management of the lakes, I would like to highlight the proactive work Council has been doing in this area.
An Estuary Management Plan for Tabourie Lake was developed as early as 1997. The Estuary Management Plan included 42 strategies to restore, protect and conserve the natural resources of Tabourie Lake.
As part of the current review of the 1997 Plan, the implementation status of the strategies has been assessed and highlighted that 88% of the recommended strategies had been either completed or had commenced. This highlights Council’s commitment to not only plan for the conservation and management of Tabourie Lake, but also implement actions to protect the lake. Similarly, an Estuary Management Plan for Burrill Lake was developed and adopted by Council in 2002.
In addition to Estuary Management, Council is also actively planning to mitigate the flood risks and a Flood Study is about to be completed on Tabourie Lake while a Flood Risk Management Study and Plan is underway for Burrill Lake. These Studies will drive the future management of the entrances to the lakes, while recognising the social and economic values of the lakes, flood risk and people safety are the overarching considerations when managing lake entrances.
All the work undertaken by Council in these areas is guided by State Government legislation and technical guidelines which prevent undertaking work on the entrances that could cause serious environmental damages.
Council recognises the issues associated with low lake levels and warm summer temperatures and has asked for assistance of the NSW Government.
More background information on this issue is available as part of a recent report presented to Council’s Crown Reserve, Community and Commercial Operations Committee, accessible online at http://shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/council/pubdocs/papers/2010/CR/20100202%20CR.pdf
To conclude, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that despite the drought conditions, our lakes are doing well. Recent water quality monitoring indicated that Burrill Lake had a “good” rating under the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) swimming water quality guidelines and this is a great indicator that Council and the community are able to manage the magnificent lakes in the Shoalhaven during the busiest time of the year when the population swells from approx 94,000 up to about 320,000 people.
I can assure you that Council will continue working for, and with, its community to further restore, protect and conserve the natural resources of the beautiful Shoalhaven area.
Kind regards
Paul Green
Mayor
3423E
D10/27490