Further development is inevitable

In response to Nitasha Thomson, (Don't destroy gentle ambience 5 July, 2010), my husband and I moved to Umina Beach six years ago, also for the change of lifestyle.

We purchased a small business and each day we relish the fact that we travel less than a kilometre to work and that we can walk to the beach anytime we like.

We understand precisely what Matthew Wales is saying about the ailing economy in Ettalong.

Being in small business, we have a fair idea of exactly how businesses in the area are being affected by the current decrease in trade.

During our time here, we have seen the closure of businesses in both Ettalong and Umina townships.

Woy Woy, Ettalong and Umina are all suffering from the downturn in trade, in the current economic crisis, and as long as Ettalong remains stagnant, more business will likely close.

We appreciate that this has always been a simple seaside area and that there is resistance to significant development.

Well, that horse bolted when the Ettalong Beach Club and Mantra resort was built and it now desperately needs new development alongside it, to balance the proportion of the entire foreshore.

How can we expect tourists to return to a town centre so obviously in decline?

The site of the proposed Tesrol development is currently an ugly carpark, overlooked by visitors to the resort.

It's absurd!

We are burying our heads in the sand if we believe that further development won't take place.

It's going to happen, so we might as well embrace the changes that will inevitably occur and do our best to ensure their success.

Whatever happens, this will remain a beachside area, but it could realistically become a better beachside area, attracting more tourists, resulting in thriving businesses, more new homes, increased rents and more employment.

We can still be villages, but with enough progressive expansion to keep our townships alive and flourishing.

Everyone wants a prosperous community, but no one seems to want development in their own area.

The not-in-my-town-mentality serves no purpose.

We must overcome our mural dyslexia - that's a failure to see the handwriting on the wall, and realise that towns need to grow, which is synonymous with development.

Email, 9 Jul 2010 Cathy Waller, Umina