Tolerance of tree clearing degrades us
How many have witnessed the latest act of vandalism on the Peninsula?
The selective destruction of mature trees on our public foreshore reserve at Ettalong Beach near Bangalow St is the latest example.
Early morning, January 6, these trees were cut down to satisfy yet another individual's selfish needs at the expense of, and detriment to, community needs.
No longer is the destruction of trees of the Peninsula confined to inappropriate or indiscriminate development on private land.
Once again the targets were trees on public lands and reserves.
Witness not only this most recent act of environmental vandalism but the continued destruction of mature vegetation on the public foreshore of Ettalong and Ocean Beach.
Other communities nurture and develop coastal vegetation while we permit its illegal destruction, with community representatives who are even prepared to condone it.
These malicious acts do not only degrade our environment and public reserves, they degrade us.
The foreshore on the Peninsula is our most scenic and greatest asset.
Yet we continue to allow this to happen without pursuing or punishing the offenders.
We neglect our obligation to our children and future generations by allowing this to happen.
The pro-development lobby must understand that tourism and jobs will not come to the Peninsula if their developments are at the expense of the trees and the foreshore of the Peninsula and the lobby's failure to acknowledge its community responsibilities.
Recall your memories of significant towns, views, localities or beaches.
The presence of trees will surely have made these locations memorable?
Think of the foreshores of the Peninsula devoid of trees!
If the current situation is allowed to continue this will surely be the result.
Where will the tourists and the jobs go, and what will we tell our children and future generations?
That we abandoned our trees and our community responsibility to act to preserve, retain and develop our natural assets for the sake of apathy, lack of foresight and the short term gains of a select few?
Rod Cummings, January 9 (email)