A letter to council: I live in Lake Cathie. It used to be paradise, it used to be an oasis I longed to go home to... it used to be. But I hear you spent your energy on chairs, toilets and playgrounds. I guess that's OK, what I'm asking for is of much less significance. I want a house without smoke, to be able to hang washing in the backyard, and the peace of mind that my house won't burn down when I go to work. I want a lake that is fresh, healthy and able to flow back into the crevices that are now charcoal.
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Is it your fault, well no. Could you have stopped a drought or natural disaster, I know you couldn't. But if our reserves were wet under foot as they used to be, maybe it wouldn't have threatened my house, I wouldn't be cringing when I hear a helicopter, I would be able to sleep at night instead of worrying about the reserve that still smoulders beside me. Just maybe.
I listen to your reasons for inaction but none of them even whisper of hope. Can you hear my voice? Do you know I'm even here?
I live in Evans St Lake Cathie, it's a black mess. I am forever grateful to the many services that helped here, deeply and truly grateful.
But I am sad, really sad.
It's dying here. The fish will die if you open the lake or if you don't. The trees felled by the fire continue to groan. Can you hear them? If my voice is too soft, can you listen to them? But if you could just find a man and a digger, some relief would come.
Blue waters would flow, hope might float once again. There is no neat answer but will you listen? I'm sad, and I don't want to be mad.
A man and a digger, I reckon I could find one for free if you'd allow it. Oh agenda that won't bend, can't you see that we need something. It isn't even a lot of money.
Our rates from one street would cover it, but why can't you hear us. We plead, we beg, we wait and wait ... and now we smoulder. Am I being dramatic? Just come to our spare room for one night, you would smell it, you would worry too.
One man, one digger, a small price to not be sad.
Janene Rikmani
Lake Cathie