Coffs Harbour has been put on the map for
watching whales and
birds.
Between June and November migrating humpback whales can be watched.
The Solitary Islands Marine Park provides a refuge for them and many other marine species.
Also
in August thousands of
wedge-tailed shearwaters travel
thousands of kilometres each year to return to the same burrows on
Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve. It is the only
easily-accessible place in NSW where the migratory
wedge-tailed shearwaters nest.
Just when these
migratory species dwell in the region, fossil fuel enthusiasts and the associated industries stage a 1000-horsepower speed boats race in the
privatised '
natural amphitheatre' of Coffs Harbour. Rockets '
get airborne' and therefore are not supposed to
shred any marine mammals. Sea creatures will simply get replaced by '
high horsepower marine monsters'. Local businesses are waving shopping bags and put up dysfunctional '
fairy lights' in trees to 'draw the crowds' to a
run-of-the-mill town.
In a 100 %
automobile dependent society with few footpaths and
hardly any bike paths petrol runs in the veins of the population. Daily and
recreational racing kill the dullness of a marginal existence. 'Boys with toys' are good consumers. They race the
atmosphere-polluting machines on the Pacific Ocean and in the
scenic hinterland of Coffs Harbour.
Having just
thrown billions at the
Pacific Highway one could have at least used this purpose-built road which is
hacking its way through numerous
wildlife habitats as a human-made race course 'amphitheatre'. Just privatise the space and let the benefiting industries pay for the usage. At the moment billboards along the highway appeal to motorists to
reduce speed while the next billboards advertise car racing.
Staging such polluting and
noisy events discourages visitors to come to the area for its
natural aspects. Locals are deprived of a livable place and
might move on or avoid shops sponsoring
combustion festivals. It is the rapid conversion of a 'special place' to a
non-place.
But in the country one just tolerates things ...
See also
Celebrating Fossil Fuel Culture on Forest Roads
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
