MEDIA RELEASE

“BATEMANS BAY”
THE Mid South Coast
EPICENTRE of the FIRE ZONES
& IT’S ECONOMIC RAMIFICATIONS
POTENTIALLY our COUNTRY’S FINANCIAL BAROMETER

Our region is now the window to the country’s financial viability, should the powers that be fail to be very careful manoeuvring through our immediate & short-term challenges & if they fail to implement prudent vision of our country’s economic, resources & human sustainability, everything is on the line.

The following is listed in priority order:

A: IMMEDIATE – Urgent Attention
B: HIGH PRIORITY – Immediate Action & on-going
C: STRATEGIC PLANNING – Future Defence

FOR PRIVATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS & BUSINESS OWNERS:

A: IMMEDIATE – URGENT ATTENTION

1. Housing Emergency
1. We need the out of area homeowner to offer short term accommodation for our homeless – approximately 30% of our area’s property owners are from Canberra, Sydney, QLD, Victoria & and use them as their holiday homes.
2. Army Huts/tents – set up at evac centres & other selected areas for short to medium term

2. Food – Security:
1. Meat
2. Bread
3. Milk
4. Baby formula
5. Water
6. Fruit & vegetables

3. Age Care, Health & Well-Being
1. Elderly residents need to be visited for safety, health & well-being regularly
2. Medication “constant supply”

4. Fuel Security
1. Petrol availability– not at extortionate prices including main highway road access points i.e. Sutherland @1.79 li for E10. Batemans Bay @ $1.64 for diesel

5. Resources – Information, communications & lighting
1. Television Reception
2. Radio
3. Gas for cooking
4. Emergency lighting
5. Torches
6. Batteries

6. Clean-Up
1. Army Bulldozers for the removal of burnt homes, sheds, structures & trees
2. After photographic recording for residential and rural properties – NO LOCAL or STATE GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE
3. Insurance companies not to cause any delay in immediate action
1. Trees near homes – no DA’s required
2. Property owners make their own decision – No penalties. No local or State Government interference or penalties.
4. Residential & Rural property owners, receive government assistance of 50% toward cost for the removal of trees near homes & structures

7. Health & Smoke
1. Mental health
2. Depression
3. Suicide – i.e. current stats show 43,000 of 12-17 y/o children attempted suicide in the past 12 months – a close observation is required now for all ages.
4. Face masks – available at volume outlets

8. Financial Relief for Community Members & Business
1. 6-month rates relief/grant
2. 6-month water rates relief/grant
3. 6-month rent assistance for casual/part-time & permanent workers in fire zone areas
4. 6-month mortgage relief for owners – occupiers of fire zone areas

9. Business employing 20 or less
1. 6-months BAS payment relief/grant
2. 6-month overdraft payment relief/grant
3. 6-month rent relief/grant
4. 6-month rates relief/grant
5. 6-month water rates relief/grant
6. 12-month land tax relief
7. 12-month power supply payment relief/grant
8. 12-month phone/internet relief/grant
9. 12-month equipment & vehicle lease relief/grant
10. $15,000 perishable goods grant

B: HIGH PRIORITY – immediate & on-going

1. Legislate Land Clearing
1. Rural clearing of undergrowth/scrub including small trees – 30cm at trunk, 7m height
2. State Forest maintenance
1. Back burning/hazard reduction – under scrub “not dense forest”, fire trails for safe access into these areas
3. National Parks maintenance
1. Back burning/hazard reduction – under scrub “not dense forest” – fire trails for safe access into these areas

2. Australian Army to build government housing

3. Parity in water rates:
1. Eurobodalla Shire: $3.65 per kl (extortion)
2. Shoalhaven: $1.70 per kl
3. Goulburn: $1.80 per kl
4. Sydney Water: $2.24 per kl
5. Wagga Wagga: $2.19 per kl

4. Parity in local council DA requirements – centralised DA applications (therefore, Council’s no longer involved)

5. Parity in local Rural Fire Services regulations – centralised Rural Fire Services (therefore, Council’s no longer involved)

6. Removal of Rural Fire Service vs Council conflict –

7. Dual carriageway constructed – Queanbeyan to Mogo as planned previously

C: STRATEGIC PLANNING – FUTURE DEFENCE

1. Dual Carriageway – NSW to VIC – Berry to Victorian Border & on to Melbourne
1. Adequate clearing either side of major carriageway/highways thereby if trees fall it will not disrupt or interfere with vehicle thoroughfare.

2. Battery powered transmitter radio for every dwelling

3. Insurance conflicts
1. i.e. storm/flood/act of god & no cover or sea level rise scooping caused increases from $700 – $29,000 p.a. insurance
2. Dwelling proximity to bush & nature reserve BAL rating

4. Concrete or other composite fire retardant/stoby power poles ‘national’

5. National Frequency x 2 overall
1. Frequency A – TV, Radio, Internet, Phone – for consistent advise/updates to communities
2. Frequency B –for emergency announcements to all communities

6. DA’s & Rural Fire Regulations under one central department incorporating outside certifiers

7. Price freezing of commodities i.e. fuel & commodities during emergencies.

8. TV relays need fortifying against fire

9. No additional disaster tax to be implemented

Tragically, this CATASTROPHE should have been & could have been avoided!!!

“It’s time we put the people before the possums”

From Nowra in the North to Merimbula in the South, last winter’s trading has been quoted the poorest trading winter in 25 years & add to this the current disaster. Decisions made today & over the next short period will set our country in one of two directions. I pray we listen softly to the noisy minority & heed the quiet majority, the quiet majority is extremely agitated. Is this a window full of opportunity? Let’s make Australia great again.

Milton Leslight L.R.E.A. Ex-ESC Councillor
Beaches & Bush Properties
P: 02 4472 4777 M: 0499 477708
Batemans Bay – gateway to the Mid South Coast
Video of fire devastation available on Mid South Coast Current Affair Website
www.mscca.com.au

The Batemans Bay property market has always attracted Canberra buyers, but now we are seeing interest from Sydney buyers too.

Local Real Estate Agents are estimating that approximately twenty-five percent of the interest in the market is coming from Sydney.

House prices around the area rose 13.4 percent in the twelve months to June 2017. There was also a 14.3 percent increase in house rental prices in the past twelve months. This has bolstered investment interest in the area.

If you are looking at selling or buying real estate in Batemans Bay or surrounding areas then give the team at Beaches and Bush Real Estate Batemans Bay a call.

Coastal and Country lifestyle living around Australia – Beaches and Bush Properties

Looking for beautiful beach properties? Beaches & Bush Properties markets Lifestyle Properties & Real Estate regarded as “Coastal Living” along the Australian coastline incorporating the Mid-South Coast of NSW up to the Central Coast & Rural areas. The properties on offer vary from beachside residential properties and acreage, residential homes to rural country holdings from small hobby farms to very large acreage.

We offer the vacant land or with dwellings of all kinds i.e. residential, rural, heritage to historic homesteads. Our Head Office is in the South Coast Eurobodalla Region of NSW, reputed to be the most temperate climate on the Australian coastline. This area is also known as The Nature Coast.

Visitors, whether intrastate, interstate or from overseas always find the area breathtaking with Natural Beauty, untouched nature, coastline, estuaries, mountains and bushland with events like major off-shore fishing tournaments, wine & food festivals, stunning & novel Art Galleries, World Class Golf Tournaments, Horse riding, botanical gardens & rain forest, whale, dolphin & fairy penguin migrations, new & exciting shopping centres, airports, craft festivals, bushwalking, Blessing of the Fleet, Polocrosse and facilities from 5 star rating to backpacker and always friendly, happy locals. Regarded as a world class destination, escape area & tranquillity to the mind.

Beaches and Bush Properties Head Office is located on the harbour at the entry of where the Clyde River meets the Tasman Sea. The boating facilities for fishing, sailing, houseboats & speedboats are second to none. Travelling up the Clyde River and passing the heritage Nelligen village towards the fresh water at Shallow Crossing, makes a beautiful clear water trip.

Our Branch Office is situated in close proximity to both Sydney and Newcastle, Wyong is a beautiful seaside township on the NSW Central Coast. Explore the Yarramalong Valley, venture into the exciting TreeTop Adventure Park, enjoy camping and bushwalking in Munmorah State Recreation area. Or take the family boating, fishing or water-skiing in the beautiful Tuggerah Lakes precinct.

The surrounding beaches and towns of Chittaway, Long Jetty, The Entrance and Bateau Bay also offer more outdoor activities on the idyllic waters of Tuggerah Lake. Explore the many family-friendly and surf beaches in the region, including the rugged coastline of the Mummorah State Conversation Area.

Beaches and Bush Lifestyle Properties aims to be your one-stop shop for all your real estate needs Australia-wide.