The weird world of Bernard Salt

FORGET about the global financial crisis and focus on what really interests Australians over summer: contemplation of the perfect seachange.

So said Bernard Salt in The Australian last Saturday.

I have generously decided that Mr. Salt was stuck for an opening sentence in the opinion piece Wanted: new universe by the beach, because such a broad statement begs dissent.

As does his tactless assessment of what comprises the perfect sea change:

The perfect seachange town should also not be jam-packed with old people waiting to die (how depressing). Equally, such a town should not be filled with screaming kids (how annoying).

Ouch! With the Australian population now skewing towards larger blocs of older age groups and children being a prized asset in any healthy community, this is an incredibly insensitive opinion.

Thankfully, only Byron Bay on the NSW North Coast was mentioned in passing by Salt in his heavy-footed piece, but the companion article by Stuart Rintoul on upcoming property hotspots did list Ballina, Iluka and Woolgoolga.

I suggest that anyone seriously considering settling in the Northern Rivers region, should think again if they believe that the elderly or the young are disadvantages in a neighbourhood.
Perhaps they might like to explore RP Data and search its website for the most atypical coastal village which can be found elsewhere.