The northern entrance to Bowral is a space of which residents are rightfully proud.
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In front of and beside the town pool, a park full of trees creates a space of quiet beauty.
But it's not just pretty - it's intensely meaningful for veterans of the Vietnam War.
The park features a substantial memorial and the famous Cherry Tree Walk, with a tree planted to honour each of those who died while serving in Vietnam.
That's why veterans, and residents in general, have been so upset by a proposal to locate a return and earn machine only 15 metres from the walkway, in the Bowral Pool carpark.
"We feel it's disrespectful, to say the least, having something like that so close to the memorial," said president of the Southern Highlands Vietnam Veterans' Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Phillip Moscatt.
Robert Brown, president of the Southern Highlands National Servicemen's Association, agreed.
"It wouldn't make for a respectful atmosphere, and we can't understand why it was even considered in the first place," he said.
"It will be an eyesore - we're naturally very concerned about it and I'm speaking for all our members, some of whom are quite irate."
The proposal, from TOMRA Cleanaway, would see the installation of a reverse vending machine (RVM) in the section of the car park closest to the start of the pathway.
Robert Brown and Phillip Moscatt stand in the section of the Bowral Pool carpark where the RVM could be built.
TOMRA propose to clean and monitor the facility on a daily basis, and include CCTV video surveillance cameras on site to monitor illegal dumping.
But Mr Brown and Mr Moscatt maintain that other RVMs they have seen are often a mess, with rubbish heaped around and blowing into neighbouring areas.
The Mittagong return and earn facility recently, surrounded by piles of rubbish. Photo: supplied
Additionally, the carpark is frequently full, especially in summer when the pool is open.
But it's the inappropriateness of the location that has them most upset.
"When we Vietnam veterans came home, we were the bad boys and it wasn't until 20 or so years ago that people decided we were okay," said Mr Moscatt.
"When we planted the cherry trees, people pulled them out, it was a constant batttle to get it where it is now.
"To turn around and have something like this beside it - well, we're back fighting for it again.
"It's a memorial built by civilians and veterans in the area, by donation, and we feel it's extremely inapropriate to say the least."
He said that veterans come from all over to see the memorial.
In a letter to Wingecarribee Shire Council objecting to the proposal, Mr Moscatt said veterans would not stand by and see "the sacred commemorative purpose of the memorial degraded by inappropriate and incompatible uses."
"Veterans...worked hard to build a tribute to their fallen mates," he wrote.
"Please allow us to remember them with dignity and respect rather than wind-blown litter."
Mr Brown aslo wrote to the council, saying the association "strenuously opposed" the proposal.
"Each of the 520 cherry trees represents a soldier killed in action in Vietnam - the location of a waste facility just 15 metres away from the nearest tree is therefore insensitive and disrespectful," wrote Mr Brown.
"The memorial itself is just 40 metres away - it is listed on the NSW and Commonwealth Registers of War Memorials and is widely recognised as one of the finest Vietnam memorials in Australia...Expect veterans to put up a fight."
The council invites feedback on the proposal by Friday, October 8. Feedback may be provided by email: mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au or by writing to Property Services, Wingecarribee Shire Council, PO Box 141, Moss Vale NSW 2577.
Following public exhibition a report will be presented to a future meeting of council for decision on the proposal.
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