Thoughts on the quarry
I’M writing in regards to the article in the Oberon Review concerning Mayfield Garden and Middle Creek Quarry.
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I am relieved that Tim Charge, as the president of the Oberon Business and Tourism Association, does not back the objection by Garrick Hawkins against a development application lodged by Zac Rowlandson for a gravel quarry in the forest area to the west of Mayfield Garden.
This development should be approved as this gravel is needed for the future construction and maintenance of forestry and council roads in this area. This quarry would be an economic advantage to Oberon Council with the shorter cartage to all roads in the area.
Garrick Hawkins would not be too concerned about roadworks since he convinced Oberon Council to make a priority of realignment, widening and bitumen sealing of Mayfield Road. In my opinion, this money could have been better spent on other roads which would have benefited the whole of Oberon Council ratepayers.
As for truck movements from the proposed quarry, Mayfield Road is available to trucks owned by Garrick Hawkins as well as any other trucks wanting to use this road - as it is a public road.
Is there any independent research figures available to support Garrick Hawkins' claim that over the next five years Mayfield will inject $33 million annually into the Oberon economy? The viewed threat is that if Oberon Council approves this quarry development, Hawkins will close Mayfield Garden. Council should reject this statement as having no relevance whatsoever to its final decision.
What council needs to consider, relative to the DA, is that the businesses itself, as well as the livelihood of his 28 employees, including local small business owners, their employees and contractors, are relevant on the business generated by Zac Rowlandson.
It also appears that any tourist amenities available in the Oberon business area will be duplicated at Mayfield - therefore competing with the services provided by our own local business sector.
Neville Moore, Oberon
Safety first when it comes to trees
IN regards to the article on tree clearing on Gingkin Road, trees are beautiful and I am all for keeping as many as possible in our area, but when trees are so close to the road it is actually a safety concern.
More trees need to be cleared or at least trimmed on Gingkin Road because the overhang does not allow heavy vehicles up to 4.3 metres in height to stay on the left side of the road.
Stock vehicles, log trucks, the school bus, farm vehicles, tourists and family cars travel this road. The narrow road and the overhang of trees create dangers.
Black ice is also a serious problem in areas where the trees shade the road.
Rita Campbell, Edith Road, Oberon
Know the biosecurity changes
BIOSECURITY is important to all of us.
To help us more effectively manage biosecurity risks in NSW, we have a new NSW Biosecurity Act commencing on July 1, 2017. A key principle of the Act is that biosecurity is a shared responsibility involving government, industry and community.
The new framework provides greater flexibility in managing risks, including new powers to allow faster response times in an emergency.
The Department of Primary Industries is hosting meetings across the state to explain the changes. You can find an online training program and advisory material at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity.
Niall Blair, Minister for Primary Industries
Cold comfort for those seeking help
I NOTE that a job-seeker or student in freezing Oberon is denied the winter heating payment to contribute to winter heating bills (energy supplement).
A pensioner couple in Cairns, however, can be receiving over $99,000 in interest per year, and still get this payment.
The July average minimum in Cairns in North Queensland exceeds our record July high in Oberon.
Senator Nick Xenophon got this for wealthy pensioners, in exchange for throwing away huge amounts of corporate tax, which will do very, very little for employment, and the Nationals did nothing to make the payment fairer.