Glad we moved
Wow. A concerned, unbiased and totally responsible ratepayer actually managed to take the time and effort to take photos of the current Warrnambool mayor using the mayoral car to place posters relevant to her current election campaign, resulting in a public apology from the lady concerned. It is no wonder that I and my family moved out of that "mature" environment years ago and now live elsewhere.
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Bruce Mitchell, Berwick
Let’s green the city
I was inspired to write this letter after reading an article (The Age Weekend Magazine, 27 August, 2016) about a man called Mitchell J. Silver who is in charge of New York’s 12,000 hectares of parkland. Not only is he a champion of heritage trees but argues the need for people to have adequate outdoor space for a healthy life. This brings me to my point. I love Warrnambool’s beautiful avenue of heritage trees, both Norfolk Island Pines and Moreton Bay Figs along Raglan Parade, the City’s Botanical Gardens, the wide open spaces, parkland and facilities of Lake Pertobe, the extensive pathways along the foreshore precinct, Russell’s Creek and Woodford, to name a few. We can be grateful for the foresight and vision that our city planners have provided in the past to make these things available to all Warrnambool’s residents and visitors. Given that Warrnambool is a growing and vibrant regional centre with a forecast population approaching 46,762 people by the year 2036, the need to provide more green spaces is vital. If elected to the Warrnambool City Council in 2016, my vision for the environment for all to share includes: More trees in the townships and inner city; more green open spaces; more bicycle and walking paths which are linked up with existing paths. As chairperson of the WCC Landscape Advisory Committee in 2013, the first budget for street scaping trees was established. If elected as a councillor, I will ensure that parks and gardens and open spaces are a priority for all to enjoy. Maybe we could start with a new park for Warrnambool West.
Tricia Blakeslee, Woodford
Fix harbour properly
I cannot believe presented with all the facts in relation to redesigning our foreshore boat ramp that in the past so many have backed off or opted for cheaper options. Apparently the energy produced in a wave surge travels around our present harbor wall and forces its way up onto the boat ramp area. These surges can push the boats backward and forward at some risk to the operator and the vessels. There has been a lot of discussion over the options put forward to fix the problem with many dissatisfied with the results. I have to say that it makes perfect sense to go with the best and safest options you can get. With Warrnambool’s launching problems reportedly reputed throughout Victoria most fishermen and women are driving past Warrnambool to put in at Port Fairy. Everyone agrees that we are wasting a huge opportunity here in Warrnambool and many local fishermen and women are banging their heads against the wall in disbelief. It’s my belief that given the current position many of the new council candidates are promising to get behind the project to help bring this dream to fruition. It’s truly an exciting time to live in Warrnambool with such a passion for renewal flowing through our people. We have to stop shying away from necessary expenditure and do what is right and proper for our town.
David MacPhail, Warrnambool
Vote one, sensible
Many people have asked me recently about how my campaign is going for the upcoming council elections. When they ask I am usually a bit embarrassed or self-conscious about the issue. I haven't been campaigning. Should I have been? The question has come often enough that I have been compelled to look at what others have done and believe me there are lots of others aren't there? It seems that most of the population of the town have put their hands up and only Tom in Dennington, Jacinta and the old bloke at Lyndoch are not going to stand this time. I have seen candidates' faces painted on cars, stuck on signs and nailed to fences all over the place. I am convinced that if my face was so displayed not only would people definitely not vote for me but Fonterra wouldn't find enough uncurdled milk in the district to make one can of powder. What I do know is that I don't know how to campaign. Last time I kissed a baby was when I welcomed my new niece into our family and I reckon that if I gave out handbills with Vote 1 Richard Ziegeler on them, I would be pinched for littering. I suppose what we candidates should all rely on is how we have been perceived by locals: are we known for being sensible and level headed? Have we been listeners to other people and do we make our opinion known, speaking out for others? Who amongst us is creative and is able to solve problems and come up with new ideas? Which of us likes to spend money carefully? I reckon that it is those qualities that I will be looking for when I vote for a council in October, not what my preferred candidate looks like.
Richard Ziegeler, Dennington
Praise for taking stand
I write with reference to your paper’s interview with Hayley Ballinger, in The Standard recently. Hayley is to be commended for her courage in making known the true conditions in place for refugees on Manus Island and Nauru. The cruel, mean manner in which our politicians are treating asylum seekers is unbelievable. So many other countries are welcoming hundreds of thousands of refugees yet Australia will not open its doors to a few hundred, whose only ‘crime’ is to have arrived here by boat. How else do those fleeing persecution, travel here when they cannot afford to arrive by air? And to think they thought they were coming to a safe haven. The Government’s decision to ‘off-load’ four people to Cambodia defies the imagination. It has wasted $40 million in order to ‘rid’ itself of just four, desperate people. The cold, mean statements that have been made by Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton regarding the refugees, that they will “never get into Australia”, and apparently supported by many politicians, should disturb us all and warn us to the myriad, ensuing health problems that can affect refugees for years to come after years of what amounts to imprisonment without conviction. Hayley Ballinger and her colleagues are risking jail simply for speaking up for these refugees on Nauru and Manus Island. These brave young Australians will need a great deal of support from their fellow Australians. This defiant stand should jolt us all into speaking up for refugees who have suffered and now continue to suffer-this time at the Australian taxpayers expense. While our Prime Minister and his government are adamant that they will never change their mind about these forgotten people, he would do well to remember that, as the saying goes, “it’s a dirty, old man who won’t change his shirt.” God bless you and all your colleagues, Hayley!
Sheena M. Clancey, Warrnambool
Upgrade roads, vote out pollies
It is many years since I lived in Warrnambool however I still feel that I can identify with the local area as my home town. Over the years in return for family reunions and the like, it always amazes me that Warrnambool has not really taken advantage of the wealth that has come from the local area. Dairy farming in particular has provided the local towns with financial wealth along with many young people that came off those farms. I know there are many things that need to be attended to in the area but the Princess Highway from Colac to Warrnambool needs to be fixed. I can recall when Raglan Parade was converted to a dual carriageway. At the same time every politician of all persuasions promised that it would after the next election or the next that it would be extended all the way to Geelong. And they have been doing so ever since. That must be some 40 years. Now considering that the local population has been represented by a Prime Minister and at least one Premier of Victoria in that time frame. Why is it that road has been left as a single pavement carriageway? I suspect that a few truck drivers in the area would also wonder why. This road reminds me of the Very Fast Train proposal, it only runs just before an election. There has been a proposal to turn the road in to a 2+1. May I suggest that the voters from Colac to the South Australian border reject the 2+1 proposal as it is actually accepting a downgrade in the promises that have been made over the 40 years? So please reject that one. May I suggest that you select your representatives carefully and make them a promise, we will vote for you however if you don’t do what we want we will vote you out. I think you may be surprised how well a politician listens when they get voted out.
Peter Forrester, Western Australia
Greens’ same-sex marriage position off track
Richard Di Natale has claimed that a plebiscite will be a waste of money and may delay the legalisation of same-sex marriage (The Standard, August 27). The consequences of holding a plebiscite are actually more far reaching than that. If this nation votes to retain the current definition of marriage, it may prove a cultural turning point which sees the natural family strengthened and again become the basic micro-community of our society. I think it is this possibility which the Greens really fear, and a grasp of their social vision will reveal why. I recently wrote to the Prime Minister as one of many Victorians who want this issue to be debated openly and fairly in the context of a plebiscite or constitutional referendum. Mr Turnbull referred my letter to the Attorney-General's department, and I quote from their reply: “It is very important that this debate is undertaken thoughtfully and with respect for different views.” In my view this discussion is exactly what plebiscite opponents fear, because they know that the prevailing emotional support for same-sex marriage will likely waver if there is thoughtful dialogue. Personally, I am concerned that the Greens' position overemphasises individual rights as a key basis for policy, instead of asking questions about the public good. I may be wrong, but shouldn't we be able to explore these questions? This is an important issue for the Australia of the future - I am sure we can at least agree on that. We should take the time to think and talk it through properly.
Christian Schultink, Warrnambool
Clean, green future
On behalf of the gasfield free communities of Byaduk, Byaduk North, Wallacedale, Branxholme, Macarthur and Bessiebelle, I would like to convey our sincere thanks to everyone involved in helping Victoria to become frack free. This is an incredible achievement, and would not have been possible without the assistance of so many dedicated people at all levels within community and Government. A special thanks to The Standard and other local media for their continued coverage of the issue over the years. It is such a relief to know that farmers voices’ can be heard over the noise of the fossil fuel industry, so our gratitude to Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Resources Wade Noonan go out to you, along with Jaala Pulford, Lily D’Ambrosio, Harriett Shing and Shaun Leane; you are all heroes in our eyes. Here’s to a clean and green future for generations to come!
Aggie Stevenson, Byaduk
Brave fracking stance
The State Labor Party’s decision to ban fracking in Victoria must be the wisest and bravest action by any political party in Victoria's history. The Minister and Cabinet really listened and obviously read the concerns of community members, medical experts, and the farming community in making their decision. What makes the decision even more admirable is that the Labor Party was not swayed by the enormous pressure from the Coalition government and the fossil fuel industry. It is worth noting that the fossil fuel industries receive more in subsidies from the Coalition than is spent on the federal Health and Education Budgets. The legacy of the decision to ban fracking will be handed down to future generations, who will benefit from protection of water supplies and the continued ability of Victoria to produce food for Australians and for export. Methods of energy production are changing rapidly around the world. Gas and coal companies are suffering economic losses because they have not converted early enough to wind, solar, cogeneration, and the profitable renting out of solar to households. Gas and coal corporations could have invested in clean energy: instead, by raising the price of gas to Australian consumers, fossil fuel corporations are trying to recoup the losses they incurred by building gas export infrastructure.
The price paid by Australians is not due to a shortage of methane gas, but is due to price fixing amongst the gas companies. This price rise was forecast by the Australia Institute, and also by the Alternative Technology Association. Their economic analyses forecast that the gas industry would want to charge the same price for gas on the Australian market as for gas exports. In fact gas corporations decided to charge Australian consumers far more than export prices: Australians are now paying more for gas than the Japanese pay for gas brought to them from Australia.
In only a few years all houses will be roofed with solar panels, whether owned outright, or rented from forward-thinking organisations. Methane gas is a potent greenhouse gas. Clean energy is the only hope for saving the over-heating planet; given political support, clean energy will also provide thousands of jobs in new industries.
Gillian Blair, Panmure