Look for ducks
I wonder if it is possible to erect two ‘ducks crossing’ road signs along Government Road, Shoal Bay near the Bernie Thompson Park entrance to [Harbourside Haven] retirement village.
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It was absolute carnage there a few weeks ago and mother duck won’t be spending [the New year] with her family.
Brian Russell, Shoal Bay
What qualifications
With respect to the council’s proposal to increase rates beyond the level preferred by residents, I wonder on what grounds most of the councillors believe that they are better qualified to spend our money than we are.
Does anyone think we will have an answer to this question?
E. Boyce, Raymond Terrace
Point of review
In regard to the letter ‘Science backs Sanctuary’ (Examiner, Letters, December 27).
To clear up any confusion that may exist may I restate the aim of my opinion piece in the Examiner (December 13).
“ … if logical reasoning or scientific evidence cannot be found for the existence of the current zones within the marine park (MP) then they should be removed” - and so they should.
This does not mean that I think that the MP should be removed.
As written, I was a member of the Advisory Council that drew up the zones within the boundary of the MP.
To put it in plain terms – the entire process was a circus. Many baseless Sanctuary zones were established for no purpose other than to reach the 20 per cent requirement. Some of the reasons given were bizarre.
Grey nurse shark numbers can never be accurately assessed as there will always remain many that have not been counted.
My experience in Port Stephens, over 30 years of reporting recreational fishing, leads me to believe that recreational fishing is not a threat to the existence of the grey nurse shark.
Set lining with big hooks and steel traces would have made an impact on numbers. Set lining is now banned in the marine park.
The very point of my article seems to have been overlooked and that is, the Port Stephens-Great Lakes
Marine Park, which I support, needs to be reviewed by all stakeholders. It has not been revisited since 2007 and in my opinion – time is up.
John ‘Stinker’ Clarke, Fingal Bay
Time to fix parking
I find the lack of parking in Port Stephens to be disgusting.
Not only at Nelson Bay, but it is also a problem at Salamander Bay shopping centre.
With further development planned where are customers going to park?
There is urgent need for a multi-storey carpark to be built. There is a lot of overflow parking on the present unoccupied land, so what happens when this is developed?
Ken Shadler, Corlette
Rebate not as robust
On the topic of the Port Stephens Council’s special rate variation, pensioners 15 years ago received the $250 rebate.
That rebate on my rates represented 25 per cent of my total amount due. Today the $250 rebate on my rates only represents 15 per cent of my [total amount due] is this fair?
Should the rebate be indexed?
J.Morrison, Corlette
Don’t just dump it
To all the people who discarded their belongings outside their homes hoping someone would stop and take it. You all made the Bay look like a rubbish dump.
At this time of year the Bay has lots of visitors and first impressions count. The council has a twice a year collection for all residents. It’s just a call or email away. I highly recommend you use it.