199908
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199908 [2016/01/20 15:40] – kennettj | 199908 [2016/01/20 20:33] – kennettj | ||
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**AUGUST 1999 Issue No. 777** | **AUGUST 1999 Issue No. 777** | ||
- | The June General Meeting reported by Barry Wallace 4. | + | |The June General Meeting reported by Barry Wallace |
- | The July General Meeting reported by Bill Holland 4. | + | |The July General Meeting reported by Bill Holland |
- | Request for the return of SBW records 6. | + | |Request for the return of SBW records |
- | NAV 99 Navigation Contest reported by Ken Smith 6. | + | |NAV 99 Navigation Contest reported by Ken Smith |6. | |
- | Confederation Bush Dance notice of event date & venue 7. | + | |Confederation Bush Dance notice of event date & venue |7. | |
- | Alex Colley' | + | |Alex Colley' |
- | Some Problems With Coolana, letter by Elwyn Morris 11. | + | |Some Problems With Coolana, letter by Elwyn Morris |
- | Taking Teenagers Walking by Christine Austin 13. | + | |Taking Teenagers Walking by Christine Austin |
- | SBW photograph and Slide competition 14. | + | |SBW photograph and Slide competition |
- | Wiles Great Escarpment Walk Part 2 (conclusion) by Roger Treagus 15. | + | |Wilfs |
- | Vale Greg Bridge by Alan Mewett 16. | + | |Vale Greg Bridge by Alan Mewett |
- | Budawangs. Pigeon House to Byangee by Libby Harrington 16, | + | |Budawangs. Pigeon House to Byangee by Libby Harrington |
- | Vale Bill Hall, Eulogy by Bob Younger | + | |Vale Bill Hall, Eulogy by Bob Younger |
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**Letter to the Editor** | **Letter to the Editor** | ||
- | ====== | + | ====== |
by Elwyn Morris | by Elwyn Morris | ||
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This letter is the only one received by me favouring a possible future sale of Coolana and for that reason it is printed in its entirety. It raises most of the matters being discussed by members and should be read in conjunction with the letters and articles on the subject in the April issue. Ed | This letter is the only one received by me favouring a possible future sale of Coolana and for that reason it is printed in its entirety. It raises most of the matters being discussed by members and should be read in conjunction with the letters and articles on the subject in the April issue. Ed | ||
- | The Club owns an 140-acre property, Coolana, in the Kangaroo Valley. If, as is being proposed at the moment, a Voluntary Conservation-area Agreement (VCA) is made with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, with the agreement only being able to be rescinded by the Minister for the Environment an unlikely scenario this would greatly affect the value of the Club's most valuable possession. If only PART of the property is covered by a VCA, this Would help protect its value for the future (rated by one local estate agent as round $200,000), but only if space is left for a house and garden. A partial VCA would also allow SBW itself to make improvements. A wide strip adjoining the track, and areas just below the cliffs (for a possible car-camping area) and from the hut to the toilet and water source could be excluded from the VCA, so that the Club would be free to improve these in future. | + | The Club owns an 140-acre property, Coolana, in the Kangaroo Valley. If as is being proposed at the moment, a Voluntary Conservation-area Agreement (VCA) is made with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, with the agreement only being able to be rescinded by the Minister for the Environment an unlikely scenario this would greatly affect the value of the Club's most valuable possession. If only PART of the property is covered by a VCA, this would help protect its value for the future (rated by one local estate agent as round $200,000), but only if space is left for a house and garden. A partial VCA would also allow SBW itself to make improvements. A wide strip adjoining the track, and areas just below the cliffs (for a possible car-camping area) and from the hut to the toilet and water source could be excluded from the VCA, so that the Club would be free to improve these in future. |
Such an important decision should only be made after thorough investigation, | Such an important decision should only be made after thorough investigation, | ||
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2. CONSERVATION. | 2. CONSERVATION. | ||
- | To make Coolana a true conservation area, it would have to be enclosed with a high chicken wire fence against foxes and other feral animals. (Foxes are currently being baited there). This would be very expensive, and cut across access to the river flats, the most used part. It could be argued that the large 'Morton National Park not far away is more suited to Conservation efforts, as Kangaroo Valley is primarily agricultural, | + | To make Coolana a true conservation area, it would have to be enclosed with a high chicken wire fence against foxes and other feral animals. (Foxes are currently being baited there). This would be very expensive, and cut across access to the river flats, the most used part. It could be argued that the large Morton National Park not far away is more suited to Conservation efforts, as Kangaroo Valley is primarily agricultural, |
3. NEVER-ENDING WORK. | 3. NEVER-ENDING WORK. | ||
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Only a small proportion of club members regularly use Coolana. Some of the original supporters are now deceased, and some older and less fit members can't carry gear down and up the steep hillside. | Only a small proportion of club members regularly use Coolana. Some of the original supporters are now deceased, and some older and less fit members can't carry gear down and up the steep hillside. | ||
- | There may be several reasons for its lack of Use | + | There may be several reasons for its lack of use |
a) It is not on public transport, with the only bus stopping 8km away. It requires one and a half to two hours driving from Sydney, the last part on narrow winding roads into the Valley. | a) It is not on public transport, with the only bus stopping 8km away. It requires one and a half to two hours driving from Sydney, the last part on narrow winding roads into the Valley. | ||
- | b) There is difficult access, down a very water-eroded track, from the car parking area, (which is on Crown land off club land), to the river flats camping area. This makes it difficult for older and less fit members, | + | b) There is difficult access, down a very water-eroded track, from the car parking area, (which is on Crown land off club land), to the river flats camping area. This makes it difficult for older and less fit members, |
It is unlikely that a cash-strapped NPWS would improve the road, as it only seems to invest where profit can be made from visitors. The track' | It is unlikely that a cash-strapped NPWS would improve the road, as it only seems to invest where profit can be made from visitors. The track' | ||
c) There is difficult, steep access to the river, with only one tiny. beach, so that any canoes have to be launched from the Bendeela Ponds campground opposite. | c) There is difficult, steep access to the river, with only one tiny. beach, so that any canoes have to be launched from the Bendeela Ponds campground opposite. |
199908.txt · Last modified: 2016/01/20 20:38 by kennettj