As an integral part of the community, through school bus services, tours to Sydney and Canberra, and charter work for schools and businesses, we believe the allocation of funds, planning and work on the highway must be prioritised.

Marshall’s was forced to replace our 13.5 metre coach as we face significant restrictions due to the limitations of road infrastructure. Whilst we are allowed to travel on North Head Drive, Moruya, we are unable to turn left on to the bridge which restricts our ability to access residents and businesses. To ensure we provide a high-quality service, we are purchasing a purpose-built tour coach. If infrastructure was fit for purpose we would not have to do this.

The Narooma Bridge, when travelling south, is a significant issue. We must radio ahead to any heavy vehicles travelling north to traverse the bridge. If unsuccessful, the driver must hope not to come across another vehicle near the corner and that motorists are not distracted by the view and keep a large enough gap. If the coach has to stop for traffic heading north there is significant risk of an accident.

The Mogo Bridge is very narrow and its angle makes access difficult. When two heavy vehicles approach from either end, drivers feel “they need to breath in to become skinnier”.

Schools routinely request charters; cost and risk assessments are high priority. They typically request day trips to Sydney to keep costs down –  almost 10 hours in the coach, compared to a trip from Canberra to Sydney on the dual carriageway (3.5 hours one way). Marshalls and other businesses which rely on heavy vehicle traffic continually face risk in drivers running out of hours, particularly if there is an accident and the Princes Highway is closed.

For the safety of our passengers and drivers and to facilitate a potential boom in local business as Sydney becomes a more accessible market, we welcome and encourage all funding, planning and improvements to the highway. Fix It Now and enable a safe and prosperous future.

Having perused the proposed amended dog exercise areas, it would appear we dog owners (very concerned dog owners, I must stress) will be very disadvantaged with available area to exercise both ourselves and our very-much-part-of-the-family dogs.

The council is updating the play areas to encourage the youngsters (good for that effort) but are suggesting making it hard for the folk at the other end of the age groups.

 I trust the council will consult in an open mind with rate payers and not in a blinkered way before finalising our “companion animal act”.

Eurobodalla Shire Council has announced the commencement of stage three of the Eurobodalla Coastal Management Program.

In this phase, it will assess the options of protecting or abandoning some or all of our key commercial, residential and tourist redevelopment precincts in and around Batemans Bay, in the face of predictions of accelerated sea level rise and more severe coastal storms.

The appointed consultants have identified the entire Batemans Bay foreshore from Surfside to Batehaven as a Coastal Vulnerability Area, under the new NSW Coastal Management Act.

The council is now obliged to develop a long-term solution to save this real estate or surrender it to the sea. What a big call for a little council.

People and their properties are pawns in the game of sea-level rise politics, and despite their public denials, council bureaucrats have for years promoted a policy of “managed retreat” for low-lying coastal settlements.

The application of a “retreat” or “abandonment” solution may delight some bureaucrats, but it will bring Batemans Bay to its knees.

If councillors opt to defend the Bay, they will face opposition from the state government’s Office of Environment and Heritage, and its “retreat oriented” Coastal Council.

It will also face the challenge of obtaining government funding to protect private coastal properties. It will take very special councillors to fight for the property rights of affected ratepayers.

Based on their performance, I doubt the current group has the conviction to ignore the advice of their public servant minders, and take the battle to Macquarie Street.

Are you looking after a family member or relative who has a disability, is ageing or has an ongoing mental or other illness?

Could you do with a well-earned break or other assistance but can’t find the support you need to make your caring role easier?

Family carers in the Eurobodalla region can voice their thoughts and suggestions at a community meeting hosted by Carers ACT, who provide respite support for carers on the South Coast.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 30, from 10.30am-1.30pm at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club.

To book, or if a carer needs respite or transport to attend, they can call 0432 272 253 or 1800 052 222.