They should dam a valley in the Deua National Park and pump into it when rivers are in flood.

I have noted from your article on a new dam for the shire that both Andrew Constance and Liz Innes have been very quick to ask for federal funding.

Why are these two not making the same request for federal funding for the new hospital? Does this mean the new hospital is less relevant to them both?

It's about the numbers really, (there are) too many foals.

In drought, keep the bulls and rams out of the paddock for a while.

Abattoirs should and can be almost quiet and clinical, with animals coached along to the humane killer operator. I have my own horror stories, best not said here.

The deadline for submissions to council on its Development Application for the Regional Arts, Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Batemans Bay is Wednesday, November 6.

The current DA relates to a complex to be built for an estimated $49.5 million, not on the old bowling club site but where the Olympic pool and mini-golf are now - these iconic features will be bulldozed and not replaced.

The proposed development, with a life expectancy of some 50 years, has no room for expansion and will satisfy only a few of the shire's current needs, let alone those extra demands that will surely emerge as the population grows. Its main pool, performance, community rooms and exhibition spaces are too small for today's users and will not attract sufficient volumes of paying patrons to offset expenses. This would leave the only probable prospect of increased rates to pay for this folly.

The old bowling club site, being used temporarily by the RMS as part of the new bridge works, will be in limbo without a plan for its future other than further attempts to sell it. Even if an investor could be found - it's a very problematic area - there is no assurance that whatever might end up on the site will fit the "Gateway Development" promised in April 2016 when the site was purchased.

This has been a most controversial project: council has refused to incorporate the community's wishes, claiming unaffordability, yet has not disclosed any business case used to obtain grant funding - such a report would help the community see how their money would be spent.

After considerable expenditure on consultants and despite being a $100+ million "business", council still doesn't know what they are likely to impose on ratepayers, as evidenced by the deputy mayor recently saying: "Until we go through this DA, and get a contract price quote, nobody will know exactly what we're doing." Getting the contract price referred to will involve tendering companies to commit lots of time, effort and expense without council having any idea what it will then decide.

Please let council know what you think and what you want done. Email council@esc.nsw.gov.au and the DA is number 0189/20, Regional Arts, Aquatic and Leisure Centre.