Oceanway purgatory for an edemic, threatened species

I CONGRATULATE Laura Gerber on her stand to save the Bilinga/Tugun turtles being endangered by the intrusion of the seven-metre runway lights along the dog-poo-strewn oceanway walk and I have quite enthusiastically signed her petition.

I think council’s idea to provide the turtles with fitted sunglasses is quite ridiculous.

However, there is a much more endangered species to consider and that’s the oft ignored and once much-loved Beleaguered Bilinga/ Tugun Resident (BBTR).

There is unrefuted archaeological evidence to suggest these residents actually were here even before the turtles.

I understand how some people may argue the walkway is a great idea and lots of people can exercise in a beautiful setting, however, I dare say they would change their tune were the walkway to pass about five metres from their own bedroom window.

Some of the perils facing these poor endangered souls during the daytime alone, are rampant vandalism, lycra-clad road warriors conducting the Tour de Tugun at breakneck speeds with their head down (to reduce drag) so that they will not see the poor little kiddie on his scooter, dog walkers who allow their animals to defecate wherever they feel like and do not even clean it up. They also feel that a “Dogs on Leash Please” sign, does not pertain to them.

Then we have the motorised skateboards and other like contraptions that move at such speed they become a real danger to others (incidentally, how is that exercise?)

Then we have the ‘mollygookers’ who, not content with standing on the path staring at the poor endangered residents and invading their privacy, then decide to come into the properties to “have a look around”.

Cigarette butts, rubbish, discarded coffee cups, drug needles, loud conversations etc. all contribute to the heady mix.

As usual, with no consultation with residents, the council (after, we presume conducting exhaustive research) installed the lowprofile solar-powered light bollards in a symbolic nod to the poor endangered BBTR residents.

Whose head goes on the chopping block for such a huge waste of taxpayers’ money. This total project has been a complete obscenity.

There is simply no need to traverse this path at night.

There’s nothing to see – touristwise ... robbers, vandals, ne’er-dowellers do not need to see to carry out their clandestine deeds and the bollard lighting is quite adequate for the casual night walker.

Save the poor Beleaguered Bilinga/Tugun Resident (BBTR) before extinction.

Perhaps Cr Gail O’Neill could get on the bandwagon and grab a few more votes by starting her own petition to save these poor souls. Then I might vote for her.

BOB ANLEY, BILINGA/TUGUN