Dear Editor,
Mr. Ho and his lovely daughter know very well that I have nothing against him or his family, but to sue a small community like ours is an unfriendly act. The existing docks at the Cape were built using the window of opportunity during the last council.
There should have been a thorough feasability study before construction began. One or two public docks at suitable places would have been OK, but to usurp the public beaches for private use, as extensions of upland properties, ruins and removes the whole waterfront from its rightful owners, the public. We have reached the stage where there is only one public beach left, at the Cape, flanked by an endless private dock. Responsible boaters should keep their toilets closed when they are close to land to prevent endangering swimmers. But without laws and enforcement this can not be guaranteed, therefore, community spirit means not building a dock right next to a swimming beach.
We hope that the people who have already built docks will share these inordinately long facilities with their present and future neighbors. We are not prejudiced or trying to prevent anyone from enjoying their properties, we are simply trying to introduce some common sense and fairness. And fairness does not mean private exclusivety, it means protecting the public interest as well.
Imke Zimmermann
