LETTER: Park the politics and drop the blame game

DEAR News Of The Area,

PARK the politics! We understand, Gurmesh, that you are the voice for the local timber industry and beholden to your National Party minders, but as our local member can you possibly drop the political blame game and embrace the challenges and opportunities that the Great Koala National Park announcement brings to our area?

The woes of the native hardwood industry precede any GKNP by decades.

It is sad, but numerous historic Parliamentary inquiries into the industry have shown vulnerabilities to a range of factors, like most other industries in this country, many of which haven’t enjoyed the same public subsidies and are long gone.

I can assure you my 35-year-old townhouse, and a majority of the modern homes around me, do not have one stick of local hardwood in them, Gurmesh, and if the latest research shows more Koalas in the Park than first thought then surely that is to be celebrated.

Questionable governance by a Public Corporation which has increasingly lost its social license, associated with a more environmentally conscious public has also not helped.

In case you missed it, Coffs is a recognised ‘Ecotourist Destination’; a moniker our Council and many businesses and individuals in the community have worked hard to establish and grow.

We are relying on you to get the best deal for our area; not only for affected timber industry workers but a world class visitors centre so people can see koalas and other wildlife being rehabilitated.

Let’s also ensure we get genuine engagement and recognition of the indigenous culture’s contribution to our natural heritage, and the improved access trails, recreation and camp ground facilities promised.

The application of the latest carbon credit scheme, as flawed as it might be, will go some way towards funding what this Park needs and deserves.

Regards,

Dave Wood,

Boambee East.