The same happens in commercial areas like the Narooma Flat and the Bay CBD. Developers desert these areas because of the financial risk.

Recently, the NSW Coalition Government tabled its new Coastal Management Bill. Planning Minister Rob Stokes’ Bill sets out to identify “vulnerable” coastal areas along the entire NSW coast. Surprisingly, it was tabled before the mapping was completed. It contains a few barbs, like increased fines for trying to protect your property to one million dollars. You might also be required to surrender your property to the government without compensation. The restrictive coastal zone will be up to 1.5 kilometres in the regions, but in Sydney electorates like Manly (Baird), and Pittwater (Stokes), the zone will be as little as 50m.

It does not stop there. Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt announced on his return from the Paris climate conference that the Federal Government would prepare vulnerable area mapping for the entire Australian coast.

Can you imagine the effect of three tiers of coastal hazard mapping on developer confidence and the economy of regional cities and towns caught up in this climate change debacle?

Could Liberal candidate Ann Sudmalis and Labor candidate Fiona Phillips please let the people of Gilmore know their position on coastal hazard management? Will they support the NSW Coastal Alliance’s position that any vulnerability mapping must be accompanied by mitigation (coastal defence) planning, and will they guarantee that no properties will be resumed without appropriate compensation?

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Eurobodalla Mayor Lindsay Brown and the other councillors for their leadership of the shire.

We have survived not being amalgamated into a bigger shire or taking on debt of another shire.  Attending their recent Fit for the Future workshop showed their planning for the future success of this shire.

Batemans Bay, in particular, is going through some tough times, but tough times call for tough people and I feel the leadership shown locally is good for the shire.  If people don't agree with the way the shire is being run, then they should run for council in September and just see what is involved and the amount of work, for which the small remuneration in no way compensates for the time and effort put in.

Thank you to all - I personally appreciate everything that you have done and plan to do.

The submission for the rezoning and reclassification of Albert Ryan Park closes on Friday, June 3, and I am asking all residents who have concerns over this issue to please place a submission into the council by this date.

Councillor Liz Innes moved and Councillor Rob Pollock seconded the motion on April 12 to have Lot 10 and Lot 11 DP 236342 Beach Road Batemans Bay Rezoned and Reclassified.

After investigation by the group Save Albert Ryan Park it was discovered that Lot 10 – the larger of the two lots – is owned by Road and Maritime Services.

Representatives of our group contacted council staff on May 4 and informed them of the ownership issue, as it was quite obvious until that point in time ESC were unaware. The question should be asked why?

There is the obvious issue with this land due to the Council’s own Sea Level Rise Policy.

I spoke at the council meeting on May 10 and appealed to the councillors not to waste any more time and rate payers money on this issue and called on them to place an immediate rescission motion in on Lot 10 and Lot 11 DP 236342 Beach Road Batemans Bay.

This issue has become an embarrassing for all involved in the council, including the councillors, especially the longest serving councillor who seconded this motion.

There were incorrect closing dates for the submission placed on letters sent out to affected residents.

One resident had the first letter sent to one address, then a second letter to the same resident was sent to the strata management of the unit.

Stop this process now, don’t waste staff time and ratepayers’ money on this issue any further .