The Beast's Monthly Mailbag Words The Wonderful People of the Eastern Suburbs FISHING AT CLOVELLY BEACH Hi there - I am wondering if you can shed some light on, or draw attention to, the issue of fishing at Clovelly Beach. I am a long-time local. I took a walk down there on a blustery day and was shocked to find a man fishing with a line from the concrete in the middle of the northern side. There were swimmers in the water and we were super worried about the health of Bluey. After calling the council, fisheries and the surf club we were disappointed to hear that it is legal to line fish. But it is not legal to hurt Bluey? How can these two things both exist when you just don’t know what you’re going to catch? Furthermore, how can you fish with a hook while there are swimmers in the water? You can’t paddleboard at the beach but you can fish? I’m looking to understand this bizarre logic and hoping we can all preserve Bluey for as long as possible. Can anyone shed some light please? Everyone we spoke to agreed there was no logic. Angela David Clovelly QUEENS PARK DOG ATTACK I took my two year-old old to the kids playground at Queens Park, and for a picnic in the adjoining green space. While sitting on our picnic rug, we were rushed at and terrorised by a group of eight out of control dogs, including (I believe) a rottweiler. The aggressive dog owner then verbally abused me,
10 The Beast October 2020
threatened me, filmed me and my daughter, and accused me of “provoking” a dog attack by simply picking up my child. Police are apparently powerless to do a thing, and this guy still frequents the park with his dangerous, out of control dogs. Anonymous Waverley THE HUM Hi - I read your article (What’s That Bloody Noise? The Beast, September 2020) and it was reassuring to see I am not alone. I also hear the low frequency hum, I have just moved from two different streets in Bondi and can now hear it even louder on Lamrock Avenue. Is there any support network or anything I can do? My sleep is now badly affected and it’s sending me crazy at night. I’ve been hearing it only this year. Thanks, and well done for writing an article about it. Lucy Bondi NOISE IN BRONTE I found your article ‘What’s that bloody noise?’ (The Beast, September 2020) interesting. But for me, the source of the noise in our neighborhood is far more pedestrian than UFOs, mating fish or spirits. Like Luce (The music never stops, Letters, The Beast, September 2020), I live in Bronte and in recent years have been disturbed by continuous ambient noise which is particularly disturbing at night.
I live close to a threestorey aged-care facility where industrial-sized air-conditioning units have been placed on the roof close to the development’s perimeter. The air-conditioning units are currently operating 24/7. Closing windows and doors does not block out the intrusive noise. It also spoils anytime spent in the garden or outside the house. Dozens of households in the neighborhood are now subjected to the noise pollution of these air conditioning units. I suspect that other Eastern Suburbs residents are similarly affected, particularly if the air-conditioning units are on multi-level roof tops and if they are not adequately maintained. Pam Bronte BRONTE FAREWELL I was saddened to see Robert Parkinson leaving Bronte with such a bitter taste in his mouth (Letters, The Beast, September 2020). I often do a lap of Bronte Gully and have been watching with silent appreciation as the lantana, flame trees and other choking species are replaced with the very much at-home looking coastal banksia and other plants indigenous to the area. I had often thought of writing a quick note to The Beast expressing my gratitude to both the professionals and the volunteers who donate precious time doing the tedious and thankless tasks required to make our public spaces look so magnificent. I totally understand Robert’s frustration at his hard work being treated with such blatant disregard, so better late than never: to Robert and all his fellow workers, a heartfelt thank you. Stephen Hall Bronte KAREN 2 KAREN Dear Thomas (the ‘MercedesDriving Anarchist’) - I was going to excuse you the privilege of airing your political grievances once in the July edition of The
