Released on Thursday, October 8, by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the report has shown that in NSW between January to June 2020 there was 48,637 fewer mammograms and 129,522 fewer cervical screening tests completed, and from January to July 5,261 fewer bowel screening tests returned, compared with previous years.

We know that COVID-19 has impacted cancer screening in different ways. BreastScreen NSW temporarily suspended services in the first stages of the COVID-19, having since reopened. The cervical screening program transitioned from the two-yearly Pap smear to the five-yearly cervical screening test but the reductions during NSW lockdowns are more than expected.

Some of us may have delayed or neglected our regular health checks. But if we don't buck this trend and see these numbers improve, there is a very real risk that we could have more deaths from cancer caused by the indirect impacts of COVID-19, than by the virus itself.

Today, I am urging Eurobodalla Shire residents to stop putting off their health checks. If you have recently been invited to participate in the breast, bowel or cervical screening programs, make your appointments, get it done and tick cancer screening off your to do list.

The Australian Government has recently invested in a $2.2 million Cancer Screening Saves Lives campaign, delivered by Cancer Council, to combat this drop and encourage eligible people to screen.

Visit www.cancercouncil.com.au.

I wish to pass on my concern about Eurobodalla shire Council's intention to lease out the Bateman's Bay Community Centre.

The fact that this facility is so well utilised by community groups that it is difficult for newcomers to obtain a booking time, illustrates the essential nature of this community asset.

For council management to advise users that they need to start looking for alternative venues for their community activities is deplorable.

It is up to councillors to make such decisions with the public interest being the paramount consideration.

The council's own Community Engagement and Participation Plan does not distinguish between Community and Operational land.

It does state however, that High Impact(L 4) changes that involve:

* "loss of ... a local facility"

* "high level of public interest or controversy ..." or

* "high level of real or perceived impact to a local area, community or group"

require community involvement and collaboration.

The council should be proactive on this issue and seek community input.

It should not be left up to the community to organise meetings and/or protests to inform council of community concerns around the loss of community assets, as has recently occurred.

For the reasons outlined above, I wholeheartedly agree with the community sentiment: "Get your hand(s) off it." (As expressed so eloquently by Councillor Pollock, June 23, and accepted by all councillors with the exception of Cr Mayne raising an objection on the grounds of common decency.)