One of the things that makes Sawtell so appealing is the row of towering Moreton Bay figs running down the centre of its main street.

My friend mentioned this to their real estate agent and he casually said: "Yeah, my mum and dad chained themselves to those trees back in the 70s."

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It might have appeared radical at the time, but Sawtell and all the businesses in that main street are today the lucky beneficiaries of their actions.

There's a lot of talk about jobs and tourism dollars, but there are different ways to earn them.

You can't put a price on what those Moreton Bay figs have added to the community in Sawtell. But add to it they have.

My deep concern is that the planned go-kart track on Mount Panorama/Wahluu could be our Sawtell moment.

Is our thinking caught in the 1970s or can we find a vision for what the Mount could be like in 50 years when our kids might say to others: "Yeah, they were going to build a go-kart track right on top of the Mount, but my mum and dad fought to stop it."

I understand the go-kart club could change its plans.

I am appealing to the club members to fall on their swords with this one.

Please don't destroy the beauty of the Mount for everyone when you have other options.