THE SANDS OF TIME
In 2012 I became a member of Wollongong City Council coastal committee.
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Then Woonona Beach was lost under the weed, acacia longifolia, which spread from the surf club building to the surf, up to two metres high, covering the whole beach and creating a dangerous surf condition.
The campaign to remove the weeds was lead by a dedicated team from the Woonona Surf Club.
In 2014 WCC removed the weed and established a dune stabilising planting.
Over the years these plantings have stabilised the dune system and allowed them to progress naturally with good results.
Some plants were removed from the dunes outside the contractors area by local residents.
These were in the main identified weeds.
The beach now functions as it did before WCC planted the weeds.
So why then is WCC planting more vegetation on the beach.
The dune crews would be better utilised removing weeds in particular, Bitou Bush and Acacia Longifolia to improve the amenity of other infected beaches.
During my time on the committee I raised concern about inappropriate dune plantings even by WCC own standards and in conflict with the NSW Dune Manual.
So rather than seek to punish the people of Woonona, WCC should look to work with then in seeking solutions to other beaches lost to weeds. There are many beaches in desperate need of removal of plantings.
Ian Young, Towradgi
TIME TO WAKE UP
I travel the country for work and I get to experience some amazing towns and cities.
I love Wollongong and it is an amazing part of the country, however here I am on this rainy Wednesday trying have a coffee at our showcase main beach, North wollongong and the Harbour.
Tourists get to scramble for anywhere under cover and this also applies for when the sun is beaming down.
Surely we can provide some structures (pergolas) not just useless large umbrellas.
This is a major tourist component to this city and I have been to regional coastal towns with smarter and practical facilities, it’s really unbelievable. Time to wake up council!
David Bourke, Fairy Meadow
STOP PLAYING POLITICS
In response to the article by Glen Humphries ‘Commuter toilet trouble’ (Illawarra Mercury, Wednesday November 21, 2018), State Labor tried this nonsense when they ran NSW from Macquarie Street in the 1990's.
Now it is the Coalition's turn to inconvenience the public while "supposedly" believing they're doing good for commuters.
Then let the Premier and her cabinet colleges travel for one month on trains without toilets and see how they go. I would bet London to a brick these pollies would opt out fast.
Many people on the South Coast rely on the train for work, leisure and holiday travel.
If the government is not going to provide a decent service, then people will find alternatives and turn off trains.
In addition, the Coalition need to stop playing politics and install the lift for disabled and elderly people at Unanderra Station.
Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow