Denmark Shire Council voted last night 4 to 3 in favour of rezoning Lot 3 South Coast Highway from Rural to Tourist.  Above is a photo of the developer's shed destined to be Lot 3's restaurant.  It recently won an Eyesore Award for the Shire's least attractive place to eat, gaining extra marks for insensitive, inappropriate siting on the doorstep of William Bay National Park.  Can't wait till it opens.  But - that might never happen. There's a long way to go and many appeals yet.

Lucky us - we know what our future looks like! Take a drive along Bussell Highway or Caves Road and check it out.  Sure you said loud, clear and long that our most valued asset is our beautiful natural environment and rural landscapes.  That they must be looked after and preserved.  I read it in the Shire's current Community Strategic Plan and its Sustainable Tourism Strategy.  You said you didn't want to become another Margaret River, understandable.  Are some of our Councilors suffering from hearing loss or comprehension difficulties?

Probably you'd like to know their reasons for voting for rezoning.  Shire President Kingsley Gibson moved the motion, saying rezoning is "entirely appropriate to the location".  He said that it's close to the beach, numerous other attractions and other tourists.  We know.

Cr Wiggins seconded, saying that putting tourist development on the highway will put the "burden of road maintenance not on us".  Department of Main Roads is responsible for the upkeep of the Highway, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions for William Bay Road.  No better reason for adding to Greens' burden.

Deputy Shire President Lewis thinks it will keep campers out of the bush and it doesn't look like it will be a huge tourism zone and there's lots of rural land left.  Observers improperly laughed in disbelief.

What can you do?  You can keep sharing the petition with others, as many as possible, and ask them to sign.  You can text, email, phone or speak to Councilors direct and tell them how you feel.  Please thank Councilors Donna Carmen, Jackie Ormsby and Clare Campbell for listening to their community and supporting us. 

You can write letters to the Denmark Bulletin - email info@denmarkbulletin.com. Deadline for the next edition is this Sunday 26 Nov.  I'd love to see the next edition full of your letters.  You can also write to the Albany Advertiser: news@albanyadvertiser.com.

If you have legal expertise in planning or a related area of law or are a financial analyst who can unpick tourism, and can donate some time to the campaign, please - that would be great.  See Facebook - A Kinder Denmark, Denmarkians - a post will be up there a bit later.

Thank you all.  Keep on.                                                                                   Helen