An open letter to Ms Liesl Tesch, Member for Gosford

Guringai are an Aboriginal tribe of the Central Coast and recognised as such by senior academics at Sydney University, Christ Church, Gosford, and other Central Coast organisations.

Guringai are registered Native Title claimants, thwarted in the last sign off by bureaucratic hurdles. Guringai wish to protect our land for all.

Your refusal to acknowledge their concern that approx 15 hectares of culturally, and environmentally significant bushland in Kariong will be trashed for new housing suggests you are pro-development to the exclusion of anything else.

You are the current Member for Gosford so it is your job to protect the natural heritage of the Central Coast, not to stand idly by while it is trashed.

The Guringai/Darkinoong elders are strongly opposed to this development. New housing can be put somewhere else that will not profane the sacred.

Is a vote for Liesl a vote for environmental destruction?

Our natural heritage is vital to our wellbeing and voters want to keep it.

Authorised by Aunty Colleen Fuller & Gab McIntosh, 2 Dandaloo St, Kariong, 2250

signs.

They have blatant disregard for others.

Even though maritime police were out, it made absolutely zero difference.

It seems that these people come from areas where they can’t use their jet skis and take over the beach here.

With that many jet skis, the pollution going into the water would have to be significant.

They make it really unpleasant for other people who live here or who have spent a lot of money to bring their families for a beach holiday.

Other locals have been complaining for years and nothing is being done.

We need to do something.

SOURCE:

Email, 29 Dec 2022 Betty Lovell, Ettalong

Heat island effect will be out of control in five years

Local resident Mr Frank Wiffen reported in a recent Peninsula News edition how the heat island effect increases with new development approvals.

The December 12 edition reported that council director Dr Alice Howe has advised a review of the heat island effect would take place within the next five years.

This is not acceptable.

The new shopping complex on the corner of Ocean Beach Rd and Lone Pine Ave is an example of what development will be approved in the meantime.

Before this development, the area, now occupied, included large trees and open space, with a small centre and car park.

The entire site is now a heat generating island without any signs of heat reduction design.

If this is allowed to continue for another five years and more, the heat island effect will be out of control on the Peninsula, with dire consequences for residents, infrastructure and lifestyles.

The absurdity of the director’s advice is that the phenomenon has been accepted by the council, but it has resolved to defer a review until the matter is beyond adaptation.

What adaptation actions has Dr Howe recommended to alleviate the heat island effect?

Residents passing the new plaza will compare the new development to the total development of the site and ask whether the heat island effect was an issue for the council and the proponent.

From my observation, it was not and it indicates a business-asusual mentality.

A comparison between both the before and after designs would be an interesting assignment.

Publication of an aerial view of the former development/site is an option for those unfamiliar with the character change.

SOURCE:

Letter, 5 Jan 2023 Norm Harris, Umina