Mega sites

[ucfireman]

So I have been saying for years that the state of Georgia need to be buying large tracts for WMA and permanent protections for all of us Georgians to use for recreation.
Especially with the record tax revenues that the state has brought in the last few years.
2021 ended with a 2.6 BILLION surplus from what was expected.

And what do they do. They buy land to give to Rivian (without the input of the folks that live in the area). 125 million for land and "training facility". That is a great hunting area and easily accessible by A LOT of Georgians. Would it not have made a great small archery WMA and fishing area? Not to mention the Georgia DNR office is just down the road. What a waste of a great chance for a "showcase", think similar to Charlie Elliot but better.
https://www.ajc.com/politics/politi...titution-,Gov.,the largest in Georgia history.

They buy 1657 acres outside of Milledgeville (good hunting area) for an industrial site. (Which I'm sure they will give the land to the mega profitable corporations along with huge tax incentives)
https://developmilledgeville.com/buildings-sites/georgias-newest-mega-site/

They promote 1997 acres in the Dublin area for a mega industrial site. This one is apparently owned by Weyerhaeuser but probably could have been purchased and saved.
https://heartofgeorgiamegasite.com/...haeuser,largest private owners of timberlands.

They buy a 2284 acre site in Bryan county for an industrial site.
https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2021-05-25/gov-kemp-announces-purchase-mega-site-bryan-county

Seems like good ole boy, gun toting Brian Kemp is perfectly happy buying and giving our Georgia to anyone willing to promise jobs. Just like all the other recent governors. The last I can recall that saved any substantial amount of land was Zell Miller.
Sure there have been some land purchases but they have been from Sierra club and others that bought it to save and then sold it to the state. The state just doesn't seem to care about saving the land we have left.

Some say a 1000 acres or so is too small for a WMA, maybe so, but what about a state park? That is open to hunting and fishing?
We sportsmen need to be more vocal, if you have the opportunity to meet, speak or know a politician make your voice heard. Every other group out there has lobbyists to push their agenda, why don't we?

Thoughts?

 

[westcobbdog]

They only care about the $$$$.

 

[Mexican Squealer]

Dollars generated from industry > dollars from a podunk WMA....ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed but something like this I recon?....rather have my taxes lowered than spent on more government land personally.

 

[OwlRNothing]

Just remember: All land is "government" land. Every single speck of dirt. The idea that there is any "public land" that "the people" own is something cooked up by politicians and their willing accomplices.
All that said, I don't think GA is really lacking for "public" hunting and fishing land/water and our State Parks system is one of the best in the country. So... I dunno.

 

[jdgator]

I think we should beat the left at their own game. We should use money earmarked for combating climate change to buy undeveloped land for carbon offsets. And we just happen to hunt on it.

 

[ucfireman]

All that said, I don't think GA is really lacking for "public" hunting and fishing land/water and our State Parks system is one of the best in the country. So... I dunno.

I never said Ga was lacking, just that we need more.
The pace of development has accelerated in the last decade especially. All the northern industry moving south along with the population. Wont be any left and then everyone will say, "we should have saved some".

 

[Mexican Squealer]

Why do we need more?

 

[jdgator]

Why do we need more?

Strictly speaking, I don’t think that we “need” recreational opportunities. But I think land subdivision and development could threaten species that we currently take for granted. Maybe the loss of biodiversity is critical to our survival. Or maybe not. I don’t know. I’m not an expert.

And I think there’s another argument to be made that we need undeveloped green spaces to recharge the aquifer and offset population growth. I would think a water supply is need and not a want.

If these things could be critical to our survival than perhaps it does make sense to invest public funds into them.

But again I’m no expert. I’m just a layman with an opinion.

 

[livinoutdoors]

Why do we need more?

Thats the exact question modern man should be asking himself. How much more do we need? At the expense of the natural world? I know that makes me sound like a commie leftist but at some point people have to look in the mirror and say we have enough junk. Lets purchase some nature.

 

[Crakajak]

Thats the exact question modern man should be asking himself. How much more do we need? At the expense of the natural world? I know that makes me sound like a commie leftist but at some point people have to look in the mirror and say we have enough junk. Lets purchase some nature.

I just want a DG in Woodland GA.

 

[livinoutdoors]

I just want a DG in Woodland GA.

I guess we can allow for dollar generals. But thats it!?

 

[Crakajak]

I guess we can allow for dollar generals. But thats it!?

I can buy most 911 type of food item without driving 10 miles to Manchester or 18 miles to Thomaston ,just to buy the same items.

 

[Redbow]

The Wife told me yesterday she saw on the news where a Russian billionaire had just purchased a large tract of land here in the USA. And yes I know anyone can purchase land here but IMO its been going on far too long. Long ago I saw a program on TV called "American for Sale" to anyone who wants it. I have never liked that idea but I am glad a very wealthy friend of mine is saving all the land he can mostly around where he lives and has been for quite some time now.

Someone on this site said a while back they were out on their hunting club land when a couple of strangers appeared. They questioned the strangers about why they were on their club and the strangers told them they had just purchased the land and there to look it over. The strangers were from the Netherlands if I remember correctly.

 

[ucfireman]

Why do we need more?

Because before you know it all there will be are 100ac warehouses surrounded by 100ac of parking pads and all that run off will lead to flash flooding and more pollution in our creeks that run though your private land and into the ocean. No trees will lead to a higher temperatures as the asphalt will soak up the suns rays and radiate it back out slowly like a large heat sink (urban island effect that is seen in every urban city) ( go ahead and start with the global warming bull). And guess what, we need oxygen and what makes oxygen? Plants and trees. Sure it may take a bunch of years and we will probably be dead but you have to start sometime, it's a whole lot easier to save a few acres of mature trees that provide shade, erosion control, and oxygen than it is to have to destroy a building, rip up asphalt and replant and wait 30+ years for those trees to mature.

And lets say you have a 1000ac of you very own property. Its surrounded by 10 other property owners with the same 1000 ac each. The property owners around you die and their kids see $$$$$$. Next thing you know you live next to Rivian and sure your property values did rise but did your quality of life? Besides the Dollar Generals and the trash/litter all around you?

All I'm saying is instead of Georgia buying up large tracts using your tax dollars to give to corporations in the name of jobs. I would rather see them spend my and your tax dollars on preserving some of those tracts.
I am not a proponent of the Government should own everything and take care of everyone. But lets face it. I and I assume you don't have 15-100 million dollars to buy a few 1000 acres but the state does. They actually had 2.6 BILLION that Kemp has decided to use for raises, Rivian land and only time will tell what else. Could he not have taken say 1/4 of that and saved some land?

 

[Mexican Squealer]

I can’t stroke a check for 100 million so at least that part of your assumption holds water....as far as government buying more land? Please don’t with my tax money. I’d rather save it to buy more of my own, managed by me, enjoyed by my family and passed to them when I’m gone. What they decide to do after that is on them. As long as they continue to manage for waterfowl.....?