The issues raised by Warren Leadbeatter and Bianca Beznec (Examiner, April 27) surprise me.

Ms Beznec wrote that she has never heard of an incident on Birubi Beach. Well I have, and as a regular beach walker over the years, have witnessed many drivers disobeying the rules and speeding.

There has been a human fatality and several dog fatalities as well as lots of near misses, including parents running out to rescue a small child from the path of a 4WD.

Only recently two 4WDs full of people, including unrestrained children, were caught by the ranger doing doughnuts on the beach not far from the life saving club. These hoons were not only endangering themselves and their children, but the general public, dog and the pipis they were running over on the shore. Four of the women were filming this disgusting act on their phones. Fortunately the police arrived and they were given a $1000 fine (should have been more in my opinion).

Aside form the safety issue, what’s wrong with parking and walking?

I feel the decision made by Worimi Lands Conservation Board will benefit the majority. The board also deserves congratulations for erecting fencing to stop vehicles driving into the dunes directly behind the beach.

Amanda Sutherland

Anna Bay

I am hearing that a large section of the Dungog community seem to actually believe there is some “pot of gold” available if they merge with rich Port Stephens.

 Yes, there was huge opposition to a Newcastle merger. Dungog is quite different. Our Councillors and the General Manager should not construe that any community support (quoted as 95.3 per cent in a letter to Dungog Mayor*) for Dungog to avoid a merger with Newcastle means we really wanted to merge with Dungog.  We don’t have to and we should not.

We have our own huge asset maintenance backlog and roads falling to pieces as well. We have a permanent pothole patch up team with seemingly little spent on actually fixing the roads properly. Most of our toilet blocks in our highly used tourism area need a bulldozer through them.  I believe that we don’t have enough parks staff so they can do their jobs properly – high profile areas receive attention while other areas are neglected. The list goes just goes on and on. The last thing on earth we need is to merge with Dungog.  They should merge with Maitland or stand alone.

Margaret Wilkinson

Corlette

The NSW Liberals and Nationals are transferring as much Crown Land to local councils as fast as they can.

Last year they pushed through new laws so they can transfer showgrounds, community halls, playgrounds and sporting clubs out of government ownership. But the NSW Liberals and Nationals rejected pleas to require this land to remain as community land. So now it can be sold off for development, just like the state government is selling off everything else.

The Agricultural Societies Council of NSW for instance has said this will ‘open the doors for showgrounds to be potentially sold off and slated for other development.’Councils have little say in what land is being transferred to them.

Nor is the Government providing any money to help them pay for maintenance of this transferred land. It’s just more unfunded cost shifting onto local councils and their ratepayers.

Mick Veitch MLC

Shadow Minister for Primary Industries