Sea Acres a wild life refuge
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Sea Acres Sanctuary at Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie has been given an official designation – The Sea Acres Wildlife Refuge No. 149.
Official notification of this has come to Mr. and Mrs. John Griffith from the office of the chief guardian of fauna. The chief guardian, Mr. Allen A. Strom in a letter to Mr. Griffith, said he had much pleasure in advising that the necessary gazettal was now a reality.
Bounded by Tacking Point Road and Pacific Drive, 77 acres are included in the sanctuary. In the Fauna Protection Panel’s report for the year on wild life service and fauna protection, there appears a fine illustration of sub-tropical rain forest incorporated within the Sanctuary.
Sea Acres has won wide renown and a great many visitors to Port Macquarie, as well as local people, will appreciate the recognition accorded such a wonderful and unique piece of virgin country. Officers of the Fauna Panel will co-operate with the managers of Sea Acres in further development and wildlife refuge work.
In the same report there is also mention of an area of six acres having been set aside at Port Macquarie for the purpose of breeding Koala bears. It has been named Macquarie.
Population Gain
According to figures circulated to councils this week by the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, Port Macquarie’s population rose from 5952 in the 1961 census to 7090, representing an increase of 1138 persons or 19.5 per cent.
In the same period Taree’s population rose by 509 or 5 per cent and Coffs Harbour by 497 or 6.9 per cent. Taree’s population is 10,559 and Coffs Harbour 7,685. Wauchope increased by 582 to 3157 a gain of 8.9 per cent. Camden Haven rose by 147 to 1450 a gain of 11.28 per cent.
Wounded Soldier Back Today
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Keena received word yesterday that their son Ross – injured two weeks ago in Vietnam – will arrive in Australia by plane today and will be admitted to Ingleburn Military Hospital. Ross’ wife and their baby daughter had been staying here with Mr. and Mrs. Keena and returned home to Brisbane on Tuesday night, a few hours ahead of the news that Ross would be entering Ingleburn hospital.
Editorial - Rates Reveal Progress
The enormity of the rate bill might well pass unnoticed, were it not compared with a few years back. This week the municipal council’s rate clerk released figures which show that in 1967 the council expects $364,391 to be returned from a combined (general, water, sewerage) rate on lands within the municipality of $7,820,194 unimproved capital value.
These figures may not mean a great deal on their own, but 10 years ago the unimproved capital value figure was $1,719,056 and the rate return $105,274, three and a half times less than today. These rate figures must be a fairly reliable indicator of the progress of the town. Spending the money is another matter. Council’s staff, inside and outdoor, has trebled in the ten years. Nothing has been denied the town - sewerage, baths, and lesser, doubtful additives like town planning and fluoridation.