I enquired about the poor mobile reception before we bought in Boat Harbour over six years ago and was assured that a new Telstra mobile tower was coming within months. Well it didn't happen and despite continual promises over a number of years, none were ever delivered notwithstanding the safety issues caused by little or no mobile reception for residents. I find the latest round of excuses for their dismal failure to deliver simply laughable. It was only after intervention by local MP Meryl Swanson that Telstra were shamed into powering the inactive tower with a generator to provide partial service last year. I wouldn't be holding my breath for "full activation" by mid-May based on their track record to date. There always seem to be new excuses.

For those of us who love and cherish the unique lifestyle experienced at Fingal Bay we need to acknowledge that our haven is being exploited and destroyed by thoughtless morons. Over the past three months Fingal Bay has been hit hard by people who have no respect, care or love of the environment or our haven. We have experienced spearfishing in the southern corner of Fingal Bay, which has destroyed the mature female flathead population.

Apart from this ruthless slaughter, why is spearfishing allowed in the southern corner, commonly known as 'kiddies corner'? Then we had a family group who, two weeks ago, attacked the Fingal Bay headland and hammered and chiselled off the limpets and chitons and removed the periwinkles, turban shells and sea urchins. Go down via the staircase and have a look. The total depletion of shell life on the rocks and in the rock pools will make you weep and, remember, this will take years to regenerate.

Finally, three weeks ago, we had another jet ski moron, who thought it clever to bring his jet ski into kiddies corner, right amongst the family groups and children. Hopefully he realised there were snorkelers just off the beach, almost impossible to see, until they surfaced. An accident waiting to happen.

We all need to seriously step up and if you are concerned, show it. Write to our state government, local member, council and waterways. If we don't express any concern over these matters, what chance is there for the future of our beautiful environment? It will be lost and we will only have ourselves to blame.

Geoff Delaney (Letters, April 22) please don't feel like that about the mullet catch. Beach hauling is legal. The fishermen are licensed professionals. It is their job and they are policed by DPI. Every year around this time massive schools of mullet exit rivers along the east coast on an annual run and the beach haulers are active for a while. Probably 90 per cent of the retail fish sold in Australia are netted by seine, trawling or surrounding methods. I have never witnessed any dangerous driving along Hunter or Mid North Coast beaches by these guys. Also, just a heads up for you - don't go swimming when the mullet run is on. Sharks follow the schools.