DEAR News Of The Area,

RECENT editions have included a number of articles decrying the Federal Government’s recent declaration that an area suitable for the development of offshore wind farms exists in the area off the NSW coast around Port Stephens, and that a process is due to commence to ascertain if such developments are both economically and environmentally appropriate.

Whilst this announcement was just the start of an extensive investigative, assessment and approval process, the voices of those who oppose even the idea even being considered have already been raised in anger.

Without there being any sort of a real proposal to consider the naysayers are shouting from the hilltops.

NIMBY (not in my back yard) is well and truly alive and well.

Any kind of development has both positive and negative impacts and these must be thoroughly and carefully determined and assessed before any development is approved and construction commenced. That is the process which the current Federal Government has just commenced and it will be many years before that process is concluded and anything is actually built.

Yet, we already have an increasing number of voices simply saying “NO WAY!”

I came to this country sixty years ago to work on the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme to find a wonderful country with a distinct “CAN DO” attitude.

Oh how things have changed!

Definitely not for the better!

We need well informed and mature respectful discussion on all issues which affect us and the future of this country.

Regards,
Colin GRATWICK,
Tea Gardens.