Editorial

Welcome to this week’s editorial, That scurrilous, rapscallion “rag of a blog” that is enjoyed by many, and loathed by a few, turns five this week. The Beagle website started out in October 2017 with its first ar cles and was officially launched on November 1st 2017.

Since then I have published 17,900 ar cles on the website and moderated 91,497 comments. You might have no ced that this is Vol number 230 of the Beagle Weekender. That means that every single Friday for the past 230 weeks, without fail, an edi on of the Beagle Weekender has been emailed to subscribers, like yourself, for their weekend enjoyment. You may have no ced over the past five years that The Beagle (me) rarely takes a break and if there is important news to convey over the weekend such as fires, accidents or events then they are covered. The bushfires were covered for seventy one days in a row. From morning to night. The Covid stuff was covered for those who needed to be kept informed at a local level and our wonderful Council with all their shenanigans, less than ordinary mee ngs, and embarrassing stuff ups have been in the spotlight, much to their chagrin, for the past five years bring us disbelief, incredulity, lament and a good belly laugh at their an cs.

The past five years have seen this “rag of a blog” become the primary news source for the Eurobodalla. The Beagle now has a world wide following and its readership s ll grows as more and more of our residents, past residents, future residents, ratepayers, non-resident ratepayers and anyone else interested in the region discover the free online news.

The Beagle isn’t just news though. It is also the weekly Beagle Abode real estate guide that is now the region’s most comprehensive real estate lis ng offering our many independent real estate agents an affordable means to promote their market. The Beagle is also the publisher of the South Coast Travel Guide which is the most comprehensive tourism website for the Eurobodalla on the internet.

The Beagle is a community focused endeavour. Many of the ar cles you enjoy are submissions from locals who want to celebrate the accomplishments of their sports or clubs. They want to promote what they are doing, to share and include. Then there are the publicity officers who want to inform. From local agencies and organisa ons to State and Federal—everyone wants to be recognised and heard. It is important to thank everyone who plays a part in keeping The Beagle afloat and alive. Thanks to the contributors, the whistle blowers, and those who love to make comment on ar cles.

Thanks also to the adver sers who support independent news. And thank you to the community for their support via dona ons and ‘Buying a Coffee’. All of the monies donated go directly towards covering the considerable costs of keeping The Beagle afloat. Onwards to the next year Un l next - lei

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The Batemans Bay Chamber of Commerce have installed a sign at the bo om of the Clyde that says 'Welcome Back Canberra'. In a report by 2EC New President of the Batemans Bay Chamber of Commerce, David Maclachlan, said visitors from Canberra are extremely important to the Eurobodalla economy. “The sign is a nod to the video created by JJs at the Marina a er the bushfires when the highway was reopened, the Chamber said. “The message is to show Canberrans how much Batemans Bay and the Eurobodalla appreciate them coming to town and suppor ng local business. "We've done this sign as a part of a mini campaign for visit Batemans Bay and it acknowledges the sen ment and the connec on between Canberra and the coast," Mr Maclachlan said. "Lockdown has finished in Canberra, people are coming down on a Friday a ernoon, what be er place to be," he said. "People in Canberra love what we've got to offer down here and the natural a rac ons, they love whale watching, fishing, snorkeling with the seals, the cheese factory, Mogo, everything."

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SHASA supports 30km speed limits in Moruya shopping area

20 October 2021: The Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance (SHASA) congratulates the NSW Government on its decision to reduce speed limits from 50km/hour to 30km/hour on Shore Street and Ford Street in Moruya town centre. This will make it significantly safer for pedestrians and cyclists. SHASA President Kathryn Maxwell says: “Reducing the speed limit to 30km will make these streets safer for all users. Importantly it removes a major barrier to people walking or cycling and results in environmental improvements such as less air and noise pollu on and safer, healthier living spaces.” Ms Maxwell says the Australian Heart Founda on finds pedestrians and cyclists struck by a motor vehicle travelling at 50 km/hour have about an 85 percent chance of being killed, while at 30 km/hour this drops to 10 percent. “In the near future SHASA would like to see the 30km/hour speed limit extended to other streets in the shopping area including Queen, Page and Church streets, as well as to shopping districts across the Eurobodalla,” Ms Maxwell said.

community Entries open for River of Art Prize

Entries are now open for the rescheduled River Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 of Art's very popular art prize that was postponed due to the COVID lockdown. Ar sts across all media and from within and beyond the Eurobodalla region are encouraged to enter. The winner will be announced at SoART's Narooma Gallery in Narooma on 20 January 2022. The winning ar st will receive $2,000 with $250 for the runner up. The artwork most highly commended will be awarded $100. Ar sts have un l 5 December to submit their entries electronically, ini ally with simply a digital image of the work, via the online applica on form which can be found on the fes val’s website, www.riverofart.com.au. The cost of entry is $40 per work. Details are also available on the website. Judging the compe on will be ar st and educator, Denise Ferris, and the Director of the Bega Valley Region Gallery, Iain Dawson. Denise is the former head of the ANU's school of art and design and now lives in the high country of NSW. Iain has extensive experience in arts and cultural facility management and has been the director of the Bega gallery since 2014. (Pictures of Denise and Iain are a ached.) Artworks must be the original, unassisted work of the entrant, completed within one year of the exhibi on date and not previously exhibited. Shortlisted works (approximately 25 works) will appear in the River of Art Prize exhibi on to be held at SoART. Ar sts whose work is not shortlisted will be invited to exhibit their submi ed artwork in the Salon de Refusés at Narooma’s School of Arts’ studios. Both exhibi ons will run un l 6 February. Last year's winner of the River of Art Prize was Jenni Bourke. (Picture of Jenni and her winning entry is also a ached.)

Denise Ferris, River of Art prize judge

River of Art is supported by the NSW Government through Des na on NSW, and the Eurobodalla Shire Council

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Narooma volunteer finally receives trophy

Narooma VRA Rescue operator trainee Taliya Smith finally received her trophy on Thursday night for the Dorothy Hennessy OAM Emergency Services Youth Scholarship, one of Rotary NSW’s 2021 Emergency Service Community Awards. The awards were announced mid-August when Sydney was in lockdown. She was to receive her trophy the following day in Narooma, but by then Narooma, like the rest of NSW, was also in lockdown. Narooma Rotary President Andrew Lawson presented Taliya with her trophy at a Rotary mee ng at Narooma Golf Club joined by her mother Chris ne Fisk, several VRA well-wishers and, via Zoom, Dot Hennessy (in Sydney) and Rotary D9705 Area Manager Adam De To h (in Canberra). Taliya thanked everyone involved for the great honour they had given her. Nineteen-year-old Taliya joined VRA Rescue last year a er the Black Summer bushfires when she decided she wanted to help her community and saw a post calling for VRA volunteers. Taliya works five days a week at Katungul Aboriginal Corpora on Regional Health and Community Services and will soon start her Cer ficate 3 in Community Services. She also works weekends at Narooma Home Timber and Hardware

Taliya will use the scholarship to support her training in indigenous mental health ini a ves.

Above: Narooma Rotary President Andrew Lawson finally presented Taliya Smith of Narooma VRA Rescue, second from le , with her trophy for winning the NSW Rotary Dorothy Hennessy OAM Emergency Services Youth Scholarship. She is shown here with her proud mother Chris ne Fisk and Narooma VRA President Jacqueline Smith.

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In the coming month in NSW Parliament, there will be a debate on whether to legislate voluntary assisted dying – which would allow terminally ill people to end their life. The bill would allow people who are in the last stages of a terminal illness and whose pain and suffering has become unbearable, to get help to end their life peacefully and with dignity. NSW is the only state in Australia that is yet to legislate for voluntary assisted dying. That means we’ve been able to learn from every other jurisdic on, to make sure that we have the strongest safeguards to ensure the person has the capacity to make and understand the consequences of such a decision, and that they are ac ng voluntarily and without pressure or duress. I know that this is a difficult issue and that it will evoke a range of emo ons and views from across the Bega electorate. I have my own experiences and views that have shaped my posi on on this, but I am interested in hearing from you. Please fill out my survey here: h ps://forms.gle/2Fg56LK5prA9vmyf9

55 Per Cent Of "Regional" Grants Went To The Ci es

Analysis released by the Australian Na onal Audit Office has revealed that 55 per cent of all "regional" grants announced by the Morrison-Joyce Government since 2018 have gone to projects located in the major ci es. Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain said this was another blow for regional areas that had to deal with so much during this me. “It is frustra ng to see that 3,682 ‘regional’ grants went to major ci es, compared to only 309 projects in areas classified as ‘remote’ or ‘very remote’,” Ms McBain said. “The fact is these grants are targeted at regional areas for a reason. The money and support should be flowing to regional communi es like Adelong, Cooma, Braidwood and Bombala – not to Surry Hills. The Morrison-Joyce Government talks a big game when it comes to regional development, but it’s clear to me that they con nually favour projects based in the major ci es – and this report proves it. Regional areas can’t con nue to be le behind, this government needs to actually invest in them. “The ANAO analysis also found that more than 40 per cent of all government grants awarded since 2018 were granted through a ‘closed non-compe ve process’. “One of those closed round tenders resulted in $10million of regional and remote funding going to the North Sydney Pool. The city project was put first despite pools across this region desperately needing upgrades which we’ve seen this through recent grant applica ons for Bega, Batlow and Khancoban pools.” The revela ons from the ANAO follow hot on the heels of new analysis revealing that roughly 90 per cent of Building Be er Regions Round 5 grants went to Coali on held or targeted seats and that Coali on backbenchers were given the opportunity to lobby for projects that didn't meet the funding criteria. “I would have loved to have been able to advocate for projects in Eden-Monaro because I know there are so many worthy projects here – but I wasn’t given this same opportunity,” Ms McBain said.

community Swap weeds for local plants to grow the perfect plot Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 There’s a lot of uncertainty in the world right now but one thing that is for certain – it’s a great me of year to get out in the garden. High seasonal rainfall has been great for garden plants and lawns, but it’s also given rise to more than your usual allotment of weeds.

At least the wet means they’re easy to pull out. Removing weeds can be vital in protec ng our landscape – stopping their spread into nearby bushland and along precious waterways. Once weeds get established in the bush they o en outcompete na ve plants, impac ng the habitat of na ve animals. If you’re not sure if a new plant that has sprung up is a weed or not, get in touch with Council’s natural resources officer Lily Berry. Simply email her a photo and she’ll get back to you with an iden fica on. Lily will also swap your bag of weeds for some local na ve seedlings – all done through contactless drop-off. Plan ng extra na ve plants that suit your area keeps your garden wildlife friendly; a place where na ve birds, frogs, bees and bu erflies can thrive. Contact Lily by email at lily.berry@esc.nsw.gov.au Council hopes to return to its usual plant-swap and garden-visit programs in December.

The Cancer Care Coordinator posi on in Moruya is a front-line posi on funded by the Cancer Ins tute NSW Vol 16 September 15th 2017 under a current, co-signed funding agreement. Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018

An extension of the posi on to be funded by the

Eurobodalla Shire Council to the tune of $25,000 will fund an addi onal 0.2 FTE for this posi on to 30 June 2022 and will provide an addi onal day per week to cover the increasing cancer pa ent caseload in the

Eurobodalla for the remainder of the current financial year.

The Eurobodalla region in par cular is expected to experience significant growth in residents aged over 60 years. Over the 2020 to 2030 period, Southern NSW is an cipa ng a three-fold increase in demand for cancer services, including demand for the valuable cancer care coordina on service in Eurobodalla. Right: Catherine Maiden, Rob Pollock and Tracy Blake celebra ng the funding agreement between Eurobodalla Cancer Care and the Oncology Building fund commi ee.

Join Fiona Phillips in Kitchen Table Conversa ons

"We might be in lockdown but that doesn’t stop us being connected. Fiona Phillips, Member for Gilmore is holding virtual Kitchen Table Conversa ons across Gilmore. You choose the topic and 6-8 friends to invite – just enough to fit around the virtual kitchen table.

"Use the link below to register your interest. Once you’ve registered, we’ll call you to arrange a suitable day and me. We'll also organise the ZOOM links for you to join in. I look forward to cha ng with you... across my Kitchen Table Conversa ons." www.iga.com.au/catalogue

h ps://www.fionaphillips.com.au/campaigns-pe ons/ campaigns-pe ons/kitchen-table-conversa ons-with-fionaphillips/

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community New podcast for Eurobodalla farmers

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 A new podcast by local farmers, for local Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 farmers, is exploring topics that ma er for Eurobodalla’s rural community. Rural Na ers: farming conversa ons is recorded at an in-person get-together at Moruya’s Monarch Hotel on the first Friday of the month. Each event features a Q&A with a guest speaker, which is produced into a quality podcast. Grower Alison Walsh u lises her local knowledge and gentle interviewing skills to lead the interac ve conversa ons. The first episode features Council’s invasive species supervisor Paul Mar n and is now available to stream on Soundcloud. The second recording will take place at the Monarch Hotel on Friday 5 November will focus on pasture management, with re red dairy farmer Mark Bice. Other topics to be explored in future podcasts include vegetable growing and animal husbandry. The podcast is a Eurobodalla Council ini a ve made possible with funding from the COORDINARE Primary Health Network. It aligns with Council’s community development work with local farmers, which also includes regular networking events and an online Google group, where farmers can share ideas and support one another. Council’s community development coordinator Zoe Morgan said farmers by and large worked in isola on so opportuni es to connect with minimal fuss were important. “We’re star ng the podcast with four episodes to test if there is a market for it in the Eurobodalla farming community,” she said. “If it gets trac on we will look for funding to con nue developing more.” Rural Na ers: farming conversa ons will next be recorded at the Monarch Hotel, 50 Vulcan Street, Moruya, on 5 November, 3 December and 4 February, from 5.30-6.30pm. The talk is followed by an informal catchup. Anyone interested is welcome to a end however RSVP is essen al to Council’s Emily Dannock on 4474 1081 or Emily.dannock@esc.nsw.gov.au Listen to the podcast at h ps://soundcloud.com/eurobodallacouncil

Above: A new podcast exploring local farming issues is available on Soundcloud. The first episode features Eurobodalla Council’s invasive species supervisor Paul Mar n in conversa on with grower Alison Walsh, recorded at an event at the Monarch Hotel.

Pa ence and kindness is crucial as Eurobodalla businesses navigate an uncertain way forward Vol 16 September 15th 2017 under the NSW Government’s roadmap. Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 As they grapple with the prospect of policing customers’ vaccina on status, check-ins, masks and sani sa on on top of their usual opera ons, many local business owners – while pleased the shire is reopening – are cau ous. Eurobodalla’s Council’s economic development manager Teresa Lever said there were some concerns from business owners about ensuring a safe work environment for their staff. “Everyone is looking forward to being open, however we need visitors and the community to be respec ul of the rules,” she said. “With the state in lockdown for so long, we’re also an cipa ng a busy summer and want to ensure everyone has a great experience.” A strange alignment of extraordinary circumstances had, un l recently, buoyed Eurobodalla’s economy. Now, for the first me in 13 months, data is reflec ng Covid impacts. “Over the past year-and-a-half we’ve seen bushfire recovery funding, economic s mulus and public investment flow into the shire,” Ms Lever said. “In June 2021 however, we saw a 9.4 per cent drop in Eurobodalla’s expenditure when compared to June 2020. This was a ributed to an 18% drop in visitor spending, as well as a 28 per cent increase in locals buying elsewhere. “We’re yet to receive July and August figures and it is of concern how online purchasing will trend.” Ms Lever said retail and food services had been hit hard by the lockdown. This is especially significant for Batemans Bay, where 30 per cent of employed people work across these two sectors,” she said. “Thankfully it isn’t all doom and gloom though – some businesses are s ll performing well. The construc on and trades sector for example is kicking goals with things like home improvements. “There is no simple message around business confidence – it is complex.” Eurobodalla Council’s economic development team has been linking local businesses with available support and working with new businesses looking into coming into the area. The council is also focused on addressing a key finding from its recent business confidence survey that only 52 per cent of respondents had a con nuity plan to manage disrup on to their business. If Ms Lever could give one message to local businesses, it would be to take advantage of the available support if needed. “We’re all in this together,” she said. “This is an unprecedented me for all of us and businesses in par cular are having to change how they’re doing things – and they’re doing a fantas c job.” Above: Council’s economic development manager Teresa Lever says businesses are doing an incredible job adap ng to Covid rules and regula ons.

Residents of Turnbulls Lane, Moruya are concerned about the 99 Lot Subdivision (DA 0632/2020), proposed for Lot 6, a 15.9 Ha block which is Zoned R2. Acknowledging that there is a desperate need for new housing on the south coast, the residents are concerned that the design of the subdivision will have a severe impact on the EEC (Endangered Environmental Community) which runs alongside the narrow gravel laneway. The proposed Street plan shows eight lots that would front Turnbulls Lane. With driveways to five of these proper es, most of the EEC classified trees lining the narrow Lane would, therefore, have to go. The residents would like to see the subdivision set back from the road (and trees) with a maximum of two street entrances, similar to the Braemar Estate on South Head Road. This would allow for the reten on of the trees, and preserve the rural ambience of the laneway, which is a much used walking and cycling track and lessen the issues of private driveways crossing a highly pedestrianized laneway. Resident David Aitken says “The site is located within a rural se ng surrounded on three sides by grazing and grassy woodlands and fronts onto a tree lined country laneway and pastures. As all of the surrounding proper es are zoned Environmental Living E4 and have been all iden fied within the Southern Grassy Woodlands, a Cri cally Endangered Environmental Community, it is highly unlikely that these proper es will ever be rezoned for similar housing purposes. Thus a proposed massing of small lot housing fron ng onto Turnbulls Lane and one that adjoins small lot rural proper es cannot ever be consistent to this unique neighbourhood.” Mr Aitken says “The proposal does not sa sfy the objec ves of the Moruya Township Development Control Plan, which seeks to retain and further develop a rural town style.” “The subject area also contains many granite rocks in an area iden fied as Brae 10, which contains the highest numbers of First Na ons artefacts so far uncovered by the Cultural Heritage Consultants” says Mr Aitken. The DA is scheduled to be discussed at the Eurobodalla Shire Council mee ng on Tuesday 26th October from 11am

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