Vandals are fortunate they don't live in Waverley

"You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork, yet she will always hurry back," Horace, Epistles.

It is unfortunate to see that some people on the Peninsula think that they have a right to continue to vandalise vegetation on the dunes.

Perhaps they were given to believe that a magnificent view to Lion Island came with the deeds of their dwelling.

Despite the State Government dispensing with information concerning sea level rise and, whether you believe it or not, climate change is happening, unfortunately at a much faster rate than scientists had anticipated, action has to be taken.

Even Mr Hunt, of the Federal Opposition, believes that the melting of the perma-frost in Siberia is of grave concern.

House insurance premiums demonstrate that some business people do also acknowledge this fact.

They are aware of the likely damage to be incurred by the increasing storm activity, particularly when combined with a high tide.

Unfortunately the vandalism will not just impact on the people beside the water but on all residents on the flat sandplain called the Peninsula.

King tides, may this month, affect the CBD of Woy Woy as they did in 2009.

Vegetation is around the coast to trap the sand and thereby build up the dune, instead of it blowing across our roads.

Dunes help to protect our assets.

Council is to be congratulated on taking some action at last, so it is disappointing to see that some people consider that we have a Council "gone mad".

Council seems to be damned if they do and damned if they don't.

It is fortunate for these vandals that they do not live in other jurisdictions such as Waverley.

There, enormous signs at least 5m by 2m are erected up high, in place of the vandalised trees and thus obstructing the view entirely.

The sign states that they will remain there until the newly planted trees reach the height of the felled ones.

It is understandable that people with vested interests or who were misled when they purchased their homes, should plead with Council to do something such as build a sea wall or give them a flat lawn all along the waterside.

These things have been done in many places around the world; along the East Coast of America for instance.

A sea wall in one place simply moved the problem further along and houses there, built too close to the water, were lost to the ocean.

Even more were lost to Hurricane Sandy.

At Kingscliff in northern NSW, a caravan park and a surf club are in danger of being lost completely, despite enormous rocks and sandbags being strategically placed, as well as a large earthmover pushing the sand in, to form an artificial dune.

It is sad that those "concerned" citizens do not acquaint themselves with the facts by looking at the science of coastal morphology and the evidence for climate change, provided by such bodies as the CSIRO, before crying to the Council.

There is much information available on the internet, radio programs such as The Science Show on ABC's Radio National, Catalyst on ABC television, DVDs with David Attenborough as well as specialists at the CSIRO and the Australian Museum.

There are wonderful Discovery Walks and Talks with the National Parks and also workshops provided by Council.

Why not ask Council to inform you of these events?

It is always wise surely to consult a specialist and - or check the evidence, before complaining.

Email, 7 Dec 2012

Margaret Lund, Woy Woy Bay