Views on local happenings

Congratulations on your great coverage of local news on the Peninsula, and the interesting reading of issues pertaining to some.

However, most of the contributors seem to be on the one side of the slate, so to speak, so I thought I might add some views on local happenings, views supported by a largely silent body.

Firstly, I suppose a boat ramp must be at Pretty Beach, even though it is only used by five per cent of the locals to the area.

With the advent of greater launching facilities, people from far afield will be using this ramp to the detriment of nearby locals who have to put up with all manner of noises and behaviour starting at 2am in the morning.

As for the walking track around Araluen, which I use extensively, I think that it would be appreciated more if all the lantana shrubbery and weed grasses were removed along with the mangrove trees.

In my view they only breed mosquitoes, sand flies and smelly mud.

They could be cleared and established to match the existing grassed area in the southern end of Araluen, whereby the whole of the area could be shared by everyone.

The track could be improved extensively for use in adverse weather, being impossible now in wet conditions.

Instead of being ever watchful now in summer months in fear of bush fire, which will eventually come to happen, I feel that the area near to Wagstaffe and Pretty Beach should be thinned out completely.

This would take it back to its original condition when cows roamed throughout supplying milk for dairies that were in the area.

The fall at Wagstaffe is an asset to the area, but the users it attracts to night-time functions cause unwanted noise and rowdiness sometimes into the early hours of the morning.

These are people who like to show off their driving skills by fishtailing away from the venue, maybe an early start and finish could be the answer.

The environmental types who run the area apparently hate the ideas of footpaths and kerbs too, but again their properties don't get flooded in heavy rain as mine does.

Maybe other people in other areas would like to voice their opinions, too.

I hope my letter will encourage this

Bill Teasdell, Wagstaffe