The figures are evidently based on the 26 per cent of attendees who chose to complete the exit survey.

Of course, those most likely to take the time to fill out the survey would be supporters of the festival who are likely to be visiting for longer.

I have filled out this kind of survey and we all know that it helps our favourite festival if we put figures that suggest we spent lots of money when we visited the area.

So it is most unlikely that the quarter of attendees are really representative of all the attendees and so it is not valid to use the percentages as accurately representing all attendees.

More accurately, we can conclude that only 88 per cent of the 26 per cent of mainly supporters will attend next year.

Has anyone inquired of the local hospitality industry if they have seen all this $900,000 boost to business in the June long weekend?

The editor who thought it was a good idea for proponents and opponents of the festival to have a public meeting to discuss the festival has clearly never attended such a meeting, to be shouted at and talked over the top of by HuntFest supporters.

It is their behaviour at meetings that makes the public concerned at such people promoting access to weapons.

All that has been requested of councillors is that there be a public consultation period about such a festival that seems so manifestly in contradiction to the Nature Coast branding that we ratepayers have spent so much money on.

Margaret Perger

Moruya