Councillors give their mid-term report
BY SALLY FOY
08 Oct, 2010

Eurobodalla Shire Council Elections 2008
The Tuross Head Progress Association held a
"Meet the Candidates" assembly
on Saturday August 30th, 2008

The candidates were from the Moruya to Bodalla region and on
an "Invitation only" basis.

Where there were several candidates on a single ticket one was asked to present for that team

The attending candidates on stage were (l to r) : Michael Johnson, Helen Wilson, Keith Dance,
Pam Harmory, Fergus Thompson, Graham Scobie, Garry Smith, Nick Summers, Rob Pollock
and Chris Kowal.

Off stage were Liz Cook, Gabi Harding, Brian Eschmann and Cris McPaul

Chaired by: Maureen Baker, Pres. of the Tuross Head Progress Assoc.

During 27 years in the Eurobodalla Shire Graham Scobie has lived in Tomakin, Mossy Point, Broulee, Moruya, Congo and Mogo as well as rural locations at Dwyers Creek and Reedy Creek. He can readily identify with the issues facing our smaller coastal communities such as Tuross Head.

For example, the May 2008 Tuross Head Public Transport Survey has indicated that a massive 355 residents out of the 380 that responded to the survey would use public transport to travel to Moruya if it was available and affordable. The fact that 244 of the respondents were in the 60 to 79 age group also points to the need for more aged care facilities in Tuross Head with the recent loss of the only doctor in the area being of major concern.

Gary Smith - Coila resident and Independent Candidate - Experience & Common Sense Group
- responded August 18th

Unique Needs of Villages :
All villages have their own attributes and identity. All need the basic services provided by council such as water, sewer, roads, waste removal and general maintenance. Unique needs vary with each village and may include sporting fields, parks, a general store, cycle and walking paths, a safe play area for kids and a healthy environment. Unique to Tuross is a beautiful location bounded on three sides by ocean and lakes, so an immediate need is regular maintenance of the vital link road into Tuross.

Other unique needs are:
(1) due to increasing petrol prices, a regular public transport service to Moruya and/or Narooma is essential. This could be a "$3 Bus " subsidised by council or corporate sponsorship.
(2) to cater for future population growth and employment in an "island" community like Tuross, a town plan could include limited home unit or villa development with provision for small business. Such development may be located in suitable areas, with only low buidings near waterfront , and subject to community consultation.
(3) ensure the lakes remain healthy and managed to provide ongoing recreation, fishing and enjoyment for residents and visitors.

from Gary Smith, Independent Candidate. 18/8/08

Eurobodalla Shire’s villages are unique, particularly the earlier established coastal villages and hamlets, they are each different. In the case of Tuross Heads there are its setting, its heritage, the lakes, fishing, the dining experiences available (dining on the waters edge is unbeatable), a great destination, a great place to live and most importantly its collaborative community spirit. I’m sure there are many more strengthens that those fortunate enough to live in its environs know about.

The needs to support this community and maximise these strengths are catchment protection and foreshore vegetation protection and establishment where appropriate so as to ensure a high level of water quality and reduced sediment loads into the lakes. Continuing and building on the efforts of Landcare will ensure that Catchment protection measures will benefit fishing, tourism and oyster growing just to name a few.

Tuross’s early settlement typifies the qualities that make coastal living what it is, room to move, never to far from a view, community friendly urban density.

To keep these qualities Tuross community needs to put forward into the new LEP a strong view that creates a planning instrument reflective of these values.Tuross surrounded by its two estuarine lakes mean that the maintenance of water quality and the ecological management of these water bodies is crucial to the Tuross community.

The industries and employment they generate are core to the diversity of economic opportunities available for this community.Of paramount need is to have reliable public transport services such as a regular bus service.

Chris Kowal 18. 08. 08

Nick Summers [Independent Candidate for Mayor and Councillor] - Tuross Head - responded August 20th

I have lived in the Eurobodalla Shire for 16 years, and in Tuross since 2002.

We are very privileged to live in Tuross with 2 beautiful lakes, 5 beaches, abundant native bird and animal life and a family friendly lifestyle that is second to none! Tuross, like other small communities, is a unique village with its own unique needs.

1. Public Transport.
Tuross needs a bus service to Moruya, Narooma and beyond that is affordable, reliable and convenient. I will work with the Tuross community, to establish strategic partnerships with business and government, to provide an ongoing service. Another consideration is for a co-ordinated community car pool to be established.

2. Health and Medical Services.
With the loss of our only doctor and the large number of aged residents in Tuross, it is ever more important to continue to lobby for improved transport and access to health services, hospitals and specialists. Council needs to support bringing additional health services to our small towns.

3. Youth.
With the growing number of young people in our small communities, we need to provide more opportunities in Tuross for employment, recreation and engagement. Tuross would benefit from a skate park, a weekly music and social venue, regular events particularly targeted to teen needs and interests, more cycle paths and a concerted effort from governments, local clubs, churches, sporting groups and businesses to provide safe, affordable entertainment and employment for young people.

4. Catchment and Ocean Protection.
Tuross is reliant upon our rivers, lakes and beaches for income from tourism, for clean, unadulterated water, and, for the marvellous lifestyle we share. We need to protect our forested catchments, which filter fresh water supplies, from degradation due to industrial logging practices and inappropriate farming and fishing methods. What happens upstream, can impact severely downstream, and can have major economic and ecological impacts. The Marine Park and other environmental initiatives are necessary to educate residents and visitors as to the importance of catchment and ocean protection. We need to be united in our vision to keep Tuross Head clean and safe.

5. Protection for Community Land and green spaces.
Tuross is very lucky to have extensive protection of community land and ecological communities.
I will support efforts to improve and enlarge upon existing protections, including Landcare projects. Tuross, and other small communities, would benefit from community gardens, particularly as food and fuel prices go up. Tuross is uniquely placed to develop a ‘best practice’ strategy for dealing with the effects of global warming. I oppose the re-zoning of community land for private enterprises. I oppose Tuross kangaroos being culled for so-called ‘economic’ reasons!

Other needs for Tuross Head.
Improved mobile phone reception, particularly at the shops, for safety and business reasons. Public toilets are in poor condition and need to be refurbished to include disability access. The main road into Tuross needs to be resurfaced, in parts, and regularly maintained.

Finally, I support the crucial work of our local volunteers, without whom, we would be in real trouble! Volunteer organizations are the backbone of small communities like Tuross Head.

Gabi Harding [Independent Community Candidate for a Climate of Change] - Moruya
responded August 20th

Finding the balance between access to services whilst maintaining its unique identity is a situation most smaller hamlets find themselves in. A council that can engage with and maintain an open dialogue with the residents of such areas is a council that can listen and work with its shareholders (the ratepayer).

The Tuross community needs to strongly express its view of how it sees itself and what qualities it would like to maintain by involving itself in the new LEP so that a planning instrument can be created to reflect these values.

Considering most people move to unique locations such as Tuross Head in search of a lifestyle, it would be paramount to ensure that this style of life be upheld as much as possible.

By providing a secure and affordable public transport system for the residents of Tuross Head (to Moruya and beyond) would enable access to the services required to maintain a healthy, comfortable and enjoyable style of living whilst enabling the beauty that is the Tuross Head area to be maintained away from the pressure of overdevelopment.

Gabi Harding
Independent Community Candidate for a Climate of Change

Michael Johnson [Shire Wide Action Group] - Tuross Head - responded August 20th

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to put my case for election to our council as your representative.

First let me tell you of my experience of Tuross Head. I came to Tuross as a fifteen year old for holidays. My family had recently moved from coastal town just north of Brisbane to Canberra. As you know our capital city is a former sheep farm, far from the coast and I thought I had lost the sea forever. You cannot imagine the joy of rediscovering the ocean at Tuross. From that time on I came to the area for every holiday and every excuse I could find.

After I had finished my apprenticeship as a carpenter, my wife and I bought land in Tuross Head and moved here permanently to start a family so that our children could grow up on the coast. We didn’t move here for the money, trust me. We moved here because we believed that this was the best environment for our children to have a childhood and because we loved being here.

We got work and built a house. I played rugby with the Shamrocks and cricket with the Tuross Head cricket team until a sporting career-ending knee injury. We also helped with work on Kyla oval, on community buildings and at the local schools, including being on the Kyla Oval committee while it existed.

With two of our three children having finished school I decided to see how the Tuross Head Progress Association was getting on, so I joined up and started attending meetings. That’s when I discovered that the Association was experiencing many of the difficulties that I and my colleagues in the building industry were experiencing.

For instance, the Association has been trying for over two years to get a handicapped toilet built onto the existing public toilets at the park near the shops and had gotten nowhere basically. They had lobbied for eighteen months to get a bicycle rack installed at the shops, mind you the Association was providing the rack and the concrete slab to put it on, the only requirement of the council was to agree where it should go. They are trying to finish the walkway around Coila Lake and have been slowed to a stop by council delays. The Association is still waiting for council to develop a plan for the remaining walkway to the boatshed area on Tuross Lake.

The Progress Association is also pushing for public transport into Tuross which has been met with a distinct lack of enthusiasm from council. And let’s not even start on the river-mouth fiasco. I will also take this opportunity not to go into some the decidedly un-Turossian style of developments that have been allowed to go ahead by council because what is done is done. The trick is to stop it happening in the future.

So why am I standing for council in the upcoming elections?

I am standing for council because in the entire time that I have lived here we have never had a representative from Tuross on council and, as a result, we have never had representative say in what happens in our town and, as a result of that, we have never been able to lobby council effectively on the town’s behalf. I know it sounds lame, but I do want to be there for the community, to try and put the community’s needs before the council instead of the other way round.

And now for my election spiel

Ahem……
As a Tuross Head resident I am well placed to service the interests of residents and ratepayers south of the Moruya River and particularly the smaller locations of Tuross, Congo, Bergalia, Bodalla, Potato Point, etc.

I am a passionate supporter of job diversification so that our young are offered more opportunities in the selection of a career.This will lead to better job satisfaction, higher disposable incomes, a better standard of living, and a reduction in the exodus of our young to the cities.

I will seek to grow a robust and prosperous local economy through supporting the development of more small to medium businesses enterprises. I will seek ways to attract further, diverse, businesses that have a light environmental footprint.

I will work hard towards increasing the program for kerb and guttering. The current poor state of road edges and verges are dangerous for pedestrians – old and young alike.

I will also push hard for properly formed footpaths to be provided at the standard distance from roads - particularly at those
locations where the pedestrian access is narrow and far too close to the road. I will work closely with communities to develop strategies for this and lobby other Agencies for funding assistance.

I support community needs for better public transport services for all who require it. It will assist people who, for whatever reason, need to rely upon public transport for medical appointments, socializing, employment, etc

I will pursue the lack of bus shelters for public transport users. This particularly applies to those transport users from towns and villages connecting to the Princes Highway.

Because we have an ageing population I will support regular reviews of all matters relating to the needs of the retired and aged.

So, please, vote 1 Allan Brown for mayor and vote 1 for the Shire Wide Action Group.
Thank you

Fergus Thomson [Independant] - Tuross Head - responded August 21st

Having lived in the Eurobodalla Shire all my life I have observed the growth of the major towns, villages and hamlets. Many of our coastal villages started as farming areas. Dalmeny and Tuross are two such communities.

The migration of people to the coast has seen the land use and appearance change dramatically. Houses and streets have replaced sheds and fences. Preserving the natural beauty is as important as caring for a beach. Tuross is fortunate that its rural approach is being preserved, and its views across the lakes, the sea and the mountains retain many of its original charms.

Preservation of these natural values, managed development and growth, and community participation in all the facets of decision making will ensure a sense of place for Tuross.

Rob Pollock [Eurobodalla First] - Potato Point - responded August 21st

I welcome the opportunity to respond to this question.

I have a longstanding association with the Tuross head community and living in Potato Point I know first hand the needs of a small village.

My links with Tuross date from 1983 when this local community formed a large proportion of my clientele at Mexican Munchies in Bodalla – a business that sandy and I ran successfully for twelve years. I was also a member of the successful Tuross cricket Team Premiers in the 1980s. Over the years I have been directly involved in backing The Rotters with the rescue of One Tree and spent many happy and interesting hours with the late Ted Aust and his helpers as they founded and then expanded the sensational Tuross Memorial Gardens. Anzac Day at Tuross Head has to be one of the most moving ceremonies that anyone could ever attend.

I have worked closely with the Cycleway volunteers and stand behind the pride of volunteerism that characterises this Shire and I will continue to work with the organisers and Council staff to ensure this vital community role is not forgotten.I have been honoured to be patron of the Tuross Country Club for the last six years and am pleased to assist the club in its
liaison with Council and in any other way I can help.

Standing as part of the Eurobodalla First team I want to lead a group of Councillors of whom the community can be proud.

Should the Community see fit to elect me as the mayor of Eurobodalla I will continue to actively pursue the needs of the Tuross Community. We are fortunate to have good and open communication between Council and the community and I will work to progress the most pressing issues, for instance public transport links to Moruya and improved facilities.

My aim in running for Council is to promote progress, tourism and prosperity without spoiling this wonderful paradise in which we live.

I will endeavour to work hard to promote more jobs for the many unemployed and strive to improve the medical system
in our area, especially the mental health system. I naturally would, and will do, anything to improve the living standards for everybody in the community and will do anything to stop another Surfers Paradise situationto occur in our beautiful area.Since my arrival in Potato Point thirty years ago, having moved from Sydney, I have been actively involved in this wonderful community, volunteering myself to many health and social organisations.

Now retired, I will be able to dedicate more time to this work. Should I be elected I will do what I can to best represent you using my many years of managerial skills gained working with the Federal Hotels and Travelodge chains along with the thirty years experience I have in being a businessman, a volunteer
and a long standing resident within our community.

I have held an Appointment of the Crown as a Commonwealth Registered Marriage Celebrant since 1994, and also conduct funerals and other ceremonies to commemorate major life milestones. I have owned and run 2 other successful businesses in the shire and have held appointment as a Justice of the Peace for 25 years and hold qualifications in Workplace training and assessment and business management.

Having been a resident of the shire for 23 years I have volunteered in many local community organizations past and present including President Tuross playgroup, President Tuross Head safety house scheme, Training Co-ordinator and control centre assistant Eurobodalla Bush fire Brigades, President and committee member Tuross Head Youth and Sports Club, President and committee member Bodalla Scouts Group, Director Tuross Head Country Club

I stand for Council as an Independent with a real desire to see stability and common sense instilled in the decision making process, to encourage an open, transparent, honest and communicative council with the importance to have a strong woman’s perspective on council.

We live in a very unique part of this country with coastal towns and rural areas and it needs to be sustained and preserved for the future which means a fine balance between encouraging industry, residential building and tourism and not allowing overdevelopment and being aware of the need to encourage alternate energy options, having a clean water supply and more efficient water recycling.

Tuross is a unique place like many of the other small towns and hamlets in our shire. I love it here and I assume you do to. The character of it must be maintained but for it to continue to survive councilors must be aware of some problems and look at certain issues and they are – The most important is the need to attract another doctor, the lack of street lighting, public transport, the extension of the cycle walk way, footpaths in other areas and many other issues.

I have accepted no campaign donations and am not aligned with any groups.

I am truly independent
.

I encourage you to control your vote and vote below the line

Helen Wilson [Independant] - Moruya - responded August 24th

Thanks for the opportunity to answer the question:

"What do you understand to be the unique needs of the Shire's smaller hamlets and villages and in particular Tuross Head?"

The overwhelming need for villages in our shire is to be strong and supportive communities which care about their social, built, and natural environment. These communities must actively participate in all short and long term decisions which will affect them or be of concern to their ‘place’. They must have strong representation and advocacy to understand and support their unique situation.

Tuross Head is almost an island, considered by some locals as isolated and forgotten by the neighbouring towns. This is however the reason many choose to live there, and also the reason that many choose to leave! If one reads the website however, there are so many community sponsored
organisations and volunteers there is never a dull moment, and is a rich opportunity for residents to become involved.

If elected I would undertake to support the Tuross Head community by facilitating any action required to achieve community set targets for resolution
of issues.

Each person or group of people would have particular issues which would concern them more than another. From my consultation with residents
and business proprietors I know that the following issues are of concern to many – if not most residents.

I understand these to be the main issues for Tuross residents

Transport: With almost half the population aged over 50 the lack of availability of public transport is a major issue. Any service would have to be consistent and reliable and I would expect that resolution of this would be a commercial decision. An individual, group, or established local business might as an alternative, consider setting up a roster for car sharing.

Development: As with the rest of the shire, development must be consistent with our ‘nature coast’ concept, and residents should take the opportunity to have input to the new Local Environment Plan. More housing opportunities could be created at Tuross for rental and for ageing residents wanting to downsize.

Environment and Tourism: The natural beauty of the mountains, lakes and beaches provides not simply a nice place to live but an ideal opportunity for tourism. It is important for everyone that the environmental health of these assets is maintained. The infrastructure (eg footpaths, parks, toilets) and recreational needs of tourists should complement the needs of permanent residents, with safe and inexpensive opportunities for bicycle users and
walkers. The playing fields, tennis courts, and other social venues could more easily and safely be accessed by all residents and tourists with the completion of the bicycle track to Coila.

Health and Medical: These issues are difficult with a small – albeit ageing population. The resolution of transport issues would help considerably, and would be a part solution.

One Community
Helen Wilson

Keith Dance [Independant] - Nerrigundah - responded August 26th

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this excellent forum.

Having lived and farmed at Moruya and Belowra (high in the Tuross catchment) since 1965 I have watched the coast grow and change constantly over the years.

My early recollections were that Tuross did not start until the and of Hector McWilliam Drive and then with only small fibro cottages around the coastal fringe. It has evolved become a vibrant and important part of the Eurobodalla shire.

Today as in the past the Tuross attractions are the lake systems, the beaches, the fishing and the great visual amenity remain intact.

The major change is the built environment, which today has nearly reached capacity. The role of council now is to continue to upgrade services that compliment the Tuross character and also enhance the lifestyles of all residences

Councillors can only do this successfully if the people of Tuross convey their wishes strongly to their councillors enabling projects to be incorporated into management plans. The guarantee if elected to council will be to represent all sectors of the community so that Eurobodalla continues to prosper and grow, to expand our employment prospects by diversifying our income stream, yet maintain the great lifestyle that we are so fortunate to have.

I can promise that the rural view one sees when entering Tuross will stay for the next 20 years as I have leased the Kyla Park lands for that period to continue the long held tradition of that land being used for grazing livestock.

Thank you for taking the interest Keith Dance

Liz Cook [Experience & Common Sense Group] - Moruya responded August 26th

The Shire’s smaller villages & hamlets such as Tuross Head have a “unique need” to be managed differently to larger centres, and I think the “small is beautiful” theme applies. These smaller areas often hold the reason people are attracted in the first place, ie the “smallness”, the beach, the river, the parks for family recreation, or for gatherings such as picnics & bar-b-qs.

They tend to have keen volunteers ( and Tuross has lead the way ) and have
a pride in their local identity, therefore need to be protected from the “over-development” syndrome that coastal councils seem to replicate. I like the idea of resident’s action groups, progress associations and groups that foster an interest in how their village is being managed by governments.

If elected to council, I will ensure that the needs of Tuross Head are met with community consultation & opportunities to be engaged with the planners.

Sincerely, Elizabeth Anne Cook JP, #2 candidate with Gary Smith’s team.

Liz is on the Experience & Common Sense Group Ticket with Gary Smith and was represented by Gary at
the "Meet the Candidates"

As someone who lived in Tuross for the first 6 years after moving here I am aware of the need for Public Transport and also the great need to have a Medical Practitioner in residence at least 5 days per week.

I believe that Council needs to lobby the State and Federal governments to work together to provide a public transport system for all the small hamlets and villages to link them with one or both of the bigger centres at least twice each day. These facilities are available for the small hamlets from Batemens Bay to Moruya and I believe that there is an equal need to link the residents between Narooma and Moruya.

I am also aware of the needs for accessible facilities for the Tuross area. The linkage of footpaths is also an important issue.