To the Editor
As a resident of Narooma and finally out of lockdown, I decided to take a scenic drive the other day. I returned via Bar Beach at Narooma and was appalled to see that the shark-proof safety net had not been replaced since the storms of March 2021, when the net was damaged and washed to shore.
I returned home via Centenary Drive and found that the subsided roadway near Williamson drive had still not been repaired. Instead, there is a red light to stop traffic at this point and divert it into one lane on the approach to Narooma. This slows down the flow of traffic between Dalmeny and Narooma significantly and will likely be a traffic hazard come the Christmas/New Year holidays.
What is Eurobodalla Shire Council doing about this and when? The safety net was damaged and washed up onto Bar Beach in a fierce storm on 23 March 2021. I have photos of the net draped along Bar Beach. Eight months later, it has still not been replaced.
Our town has suffered financially during the Black Summer bushfires and Covid lock downs, with shops empty, owners going out of business, unemployment and vacant holiday accommodation. Our economy largely depends upon the tourist dollar, with Bar Beach being one of the highlights for both tourists and locals in Narooma.
The Beagle has just launched its “South Coast Travel Guide”, since Council made the decision to close the Visitor Information Centres in both Batemans Bay and Narooma. The guide promotes a “small family safe shark-netted beach”. Sadly, the shark-proof net is no longer there.
How many tourists will flock to Narooma this Summer to enjoy a cool dip in safe, calm waters? Eurobodalla Shire Council was unable to answer this question today, with a promise of “The net will be installed soon.” They gave me no guarantee that it would be in before Xmas.”
Yet, Council has received funding for an $8 million mountain bike trail through the burned out and degraded bushland behind Mogo. What percentage of tourists that come to our Shire over Summer will be riding through fire-ravaged bushland and up remote mountain trails, as opposed to having a relaxing dip at a safe, shark-netted Bar beach?
Mill Bay Boardwalk, leading to the netted swimming area at Bar Beach, attracts tens of thousand of visitors each year. It is one of the “must sees” of our town and one which we are proud to showcase.
I am a member of the Narooma Sport and Game Fishing Club and meet with local fisherman each week. They inform me that Sharks are endemic to Wagonga Inlet, including Bull Sharks, Port Jackson and Hammerhead Sharks, not to mention New Zealand Fur Seals (that are known to bite) and large Manta Rays.
A Narooma News article of 14 November 2014, tells of “...a fishing report in 2012 of a five foot Hammerhead Shark caught in the Narooma estuary, while there were also reports of Bull Sharks in Forsters Bay in 2011. But go back even further when the tuna cannery was operating on Forsters Bay and there are even more unusual reports, including Great White and Tiger Sharks...”
The New Zealand Department of Conservation web site reports that New Zealand Fur Seals “...are wild animals and will defend themselves if they feel threatened. Adult seals can move surprisingly quickly on land. While they can look harmless, seals can inflict serious injuries to dogs or people and can carry infectious diseases...”
I live across the road from Wagonga Inlet. Personally, I would not swim there, as I don’t believe that it is safe to do so. If I see a NZ Fur Seal on my daily walk at Bar Beach, I steer a wide berth.
What is Council doing to support the tourism infrastructure in our wider Shire? Hopefully, the Mogo adventure trail will bring in much needed revenue to the town. However, there appears to be a major focus on approving the development of massive and often inappropriate tourist accommodation, not in keeping with the environment.
The enormous block of holiday units dominating the visual amenity at Malua Bay, but providing no benefits to the general public, is a prime example. Sure, we now have an upgraded airport at Moruya bringing more and more tourists to our shire each year, but still, nowhere to swim safely in Narooma?
Come on Candidates for the Eurobodalla Council elections on 4 December 2021. Please listen to your community and start doing something to increase the infrastructure in our shire, not just for the benefit of tourists, but also for the wider community. We need you to take more positive action! Erika Birmingham Narooma
