We asked council if they did it, and Matt Fanning said yes.

“The council did place some surplus material in this area resulting from spoil from the Church Street works following consultation with the owners,” he replied.

“Additional spoil and overs will also be placed on Church Street in preparation for our longer term planning to resurface these areas following the completion of the Church Street works.”

Here’s a couple of letters that have come in relating to ‘Potholes trap a truck’ and ‘Talks underway to fix car park problems’.

Please note that Darcey Browning’s letter was written before the potholes were fixed.

Bellingen township  is long overdue for a  decent car park that is located in the business centre of town.

The recent beatification of the town is very commendable and a great asset to the town’s unique character and charm.

The car park behind the Memorial Hall whilst perhaps large enough is too far distant from the business centre of town for elderly folk to walk. To construct a modern multi level car park requires a large parcel of land, close to the business centre of town. Land of this size is not available.

However I envisage that such a block is available, that fits all the above requirements. It is I assume crown land and is at the end of Church Street on the northern side of the Bellingen CWA rest rooms.

Being over the steep bank it  lends itself to being a multi level modern car park.The top level could be made  the same street level as Church street, making it easy for elderly people to access the CWA rest rooms and the business community.

For the more fit and able, access could  be made from the lower level helping to avoid traffic congestion in the town area. Church Street is a wide street so there should be no problems with cars entering from it to the top level of the car park.

I think this is an ideal site for a multi level car park with room to expand in years to come if required.

Reading in last week’s Courier Sun the many problems associated with the existing small car park behind the IGA store, I think this may be the ultimate answer to this ongoing problem.

The large cost required for such  a major  project could perhaps  be funded  from a town rate levy. Or a government infrastructure grant. Well worth council looking  at.

I await your readers’ opinions on such a proposal.

Brian Lackie

Urunga 

I understand there has been some response from council, but for council to hide behind a technicality regards those pot holes is a bloody disgrace. The job is, as someone claimed, is an absolute nothing. In fact I have provided the cash simply via having removed (tractor and chainsaw) two very large dead wattle trees blocking Darkwood Road just this last week. Both incidents saved council sending a machine and crew out of hours to do the job at a considerable cost. Over all those years I would of saved council many thousands of dollars. I do it because it costs me little, saves council a bundle and believe that everyone should do a bit more to help themselves. How would one feel if during the night someone was killed or injured having crashed into that tree on a dangerous bend just because they felt it was council’s responsibility?

 But what does gall me something fierce are all those white officer and supervisor utes cruising up and down, driving past so many little situations, which could be as simple as kicking a bundle of litter aside to clear a culvert, a swipe with a brush hook for that branch hanging out, or shovel to steer that water away from the edge of the seal into the table drain.

 If one of our many officers stayed inside for just six wet days a year, passed their ute to a couple of outdoor boys to attend to the above it would save our roads and council a bundle each year for a minimum cost. Apart from all those utes just cruising about for whatever purpose, and today’s huge administrative expenditure, the other stand out, as opposed to yesteryear, is preventative maintenance on our rural roads, which is now simply a non event. Drainage gone, roadside vegetation out of control. A case of short term financial gain, leading to longer term financial pain and unsustainability. Take note those huge rate increases. The problem is endemic and spreading over the nation. The cry is deafening, help me, help me, give me more, without a thought of helping ourselves. Little wonder our political structure is in tatters as they struggle to meet the demands of (M.E.) to score that vote. The rise of independent and preferential voting promotes self interest at the expense of the national interest, and is casting a shadow over the democratic process.

Darcey Browning

Thora