Shuddered at Mt Ettalong Reserve plan

I shuddered when reading that Central Coast Council is planning "a complete redesign of Mt Ettalong Reserve" (Peninsula News, 1 June 2020).

Will this be like the redesign of a walking track at Winney Bay when, to the disgust of most locals, Council started to concrete the place?

Mt Ettalong is a special place, mostly a natural place untouched by the withered hand of Council, except for a large water tank and a small viewing platform on the headland.

This is a dangerous place (I wouldn't take children up there) and not many people go there and the timbers on the platform need replacing.

How many trees will be destroyed to create a parking lot for the thousands who don't go there?

How many tonnes of concrete will be poured to create a three-metre wide "track" that few use?

This track will need to be fenced both sides as to the north and south are sheer cliffs, dangerous drops.

How much of ratepayers' hard-earned money will be wasted so Council can engage in another round of environmental vandalism?

Environmental vandalism is one of the few things that this Council excels at.

Where do they find fools who think it is cool to destroy trees?

As reported in Peninsula News on June 15, page 9, when some parents attempted to start a small landcare group at Umina Primary School they were refused funding or any material assistance from Council.

Residents should direct their concerns to the State Member and appropriate Government Ministers and not to this insensitive, deaf and blind "Council".

Email, 29 Jun 2020

Bryan Ellis, Umina