The Editor
Dear Sir,
I am writing to you as a member of Moss Vale Landcare Group Inc.
As you and your readers will be aware, there are a number of groups within the Shire with members who donate their time as volunteers, aiming to improve our natural environment, and often trying to right the wrongs of the past.
Wingecarribee Shire Council is to be thanked for their support and assistance.
A healthy natural environment is essential for healthy humans today and for future generations.
Many of your readers, and most school children will know that one of the indicators of the health or otherwise of the environment can be gauged by the frog population.
Another important indicator is the bird population.
Not simply the number of individuals, but also the number and variety of species.
It is possible that older residents will recall seeing a particular species, which is no longer to be seen.
Why not?
We all are aware of the proliferation of the Indian Mynah bird.
Why?
What effects are these changes having on the biodiversity?
Our group, and I am sure other groups, are interested in starting a bird survey at the locations where we have been clearing weeds such as crack willows, privet and blackberry, and replanting with native plants.
We would like to know what birds are there now and what birds are there in years to come.
This information could prove to be of great value in the future.
I believe there are bird watchers in the district who have kept their own records in the past.
Through your newspaper, I would like to ask these people, and also any other bird watchers, to share their information and expertise with us and become involved with landcare and bushcare groups.
Would they please contact me phone 4869 1040 or Helen Chadwick (Southern Highlands Landcare Network) phone 4861 4466.
This brings me to my need to express my personal disappointment with some members of Wingecarribee Shire Council and the Press for persisting in ridiculing a certain Councillor who happens to be able to see beyond the next short-term, financial gain.
Nick Campbell Jones' sarcastic letter, (published February 20), was offensive and he does himself a disservice in writing such myopic trash.
If attack is the best defence, then Cr Whipper must be causing Mr Campbell Jones some concern.
It is a pity that Cr Whipper has to spend his valuable time in defending himself against such people, when he could be doing something constructive for the community.
Council's decision not to ahead with allocating the Bird Survey grant is also disappointing to those who are environmentally aware.
It seems that they did not fully appreciate Cr Whipper's proposal, which is not a "pet interest."
It is of interest to all of us who are concerned with the Big Picture, both locally and globally.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Jan Hainke,
Sutton Forest.
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