It is no secret the Gilmore electorate is home to natural wonders.
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Many of us have admired the rolling hills of Kiama, Drawing Room Rocks near Berry, the Shoalhaven River on a windless day, Honeymoon Bay and the grandeur of Pigeon House Mountain.
A newly-released poll (results are below) has confirmed the environment matters to most local constituents. However, only 51 per cent of 900 Gilmore voters polled said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate with strong environment commitments.
"National parks are integral to what makes the South Coast such an attractive place to live and visit, and clearly Gilmore voters recognise that," Jervis Bay Regional Alliance president Oisn Sweeney said.
"We challenge all Gilmore candidates to publicly commit to reinstate federal funding, cut by Tony Abbott, to help the state government take the next steps in growing the national parks network."
South East Region Conservation Alliance spokeswoman Harriett Swift welcomed public support for the protection of native forests.
"Gone are the days when people accepted the destruction of forests as a necessary regional industry," she said.
"Forests are now seen by a strong majority as an asset to be valued and protected. Unfortunately, neither Liberal nor Labor parties are as progressive on this front as the Gilmore electorate."
POLL RESULTS
88 per cent are 'concerned about environmental degradation' across Australia
73 per cent support creation of a 'new Federal Environment Protection Authority with strong powers'
51 per cent are more likely to vote for a candidate with strong environment commitments
82 per cent support 'government investment in creating and managing national parks'
74 per cent support protection of forests for wildlife, water, climate mitigation and recreation as 'best use of forests' compared to 19 per cent in support of logging
60 per cent support ending native forest logging and 'using public funds to retrain and redeploy timber workers'
53 per cent support renewables and storage to supply our energy needs, compared to 24 per cent who support coal