Open up on party links
I moved to Warrnambool last year so know little about the 25 candidates currently running for council. I was surprised in reading the election material circulated by and about them that only one of the 25 openly declared a link to a political party. Another provided a mobile number so when I asked of any political party involvement she responded that she was a member of one of the main parties. While party membership past or present doesn't tell us all about a candidate it does tell us something For example I could without knowing vote for a candidate who is a covert member of One Nation. I find most of the policies and positions of that organisation abhorrent and in particular those related to immigration and race. I would never vote that way and should not through a lack of relevant information provided. Next time around I hope council elections are more transparent and democratic through requiring all candidates having to declare any past or current political party affiliations.
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Tony Delaney, Warrnambool
Ban horses in reserve
The Warrnambool Field Naturalists Club believes horses should be banned from the Belfast Coastal Reserve and other sensitive coastal lands. Since the club’s inception in 1958 members have worked to conserve threatened populations of the hooded plover and in revegetation works. We believe that horse riding is incompatible with the environmental integrity of the dunes and beaches. We are also concerned about commercial use of a public resource and the exclusion of other users of the beaches by horses. It is important to hold firm in protecting the environmental values of the reserves in the forthcoming negotiations about the future use of south west Victoria’s coastal environments by the commercial racing sector.
Shirley Duffield, Naringal
Save maternity services
Recent metropolitan media has portrayed Terang Hospital at risk of having maternity services downgraded. I am appalled to learn that such a valued service is in jeopardy. As a first time mother who gave birth in Terang this year, I cannot express enough praise for the service that I received. I was able to deliver my baby close to home and stay at the hospital until I felt comfortable to leave, knowing that the amazing midwives were just a phone call away. I stayed five nights, as did my husband. Having him stay overnight meant so much to both of us and is not an option at most hospitals. I could not fault the exemplary medical care and attention that both myseIf and my baby received throughout our stay. Terang’s delivery numbers have declined over the years but this is not a reflection of the amazing care they provide. Local women need to be made aware of the outstanding service and ensure they continue to support our hospital. If we don’t use it we’ll lose it and that would be a huge loss for the town. I have only just started my family and I intend to give birth at Terang for each of my children. I know that I am not alone in this. The birth numbers may be low, but why should that impact on the health service availability and prevent amazing staff from doing their job? Not to mention a woman’s right to give birth at the hospital of her choice, rather than being forced elsewhere. People of Terang need to get behind our hospital and make it known that we want our maternity services to stay just the way they are.
Gemma Dennis, Terang
Enclose harbour
I write in regards to outgoing councillor Jacinta Ermacora’s comments (The Standard, October 13). On proposals to construct a marina in Warrnambool Cr Ermacora is said to have said “should these ideas go ahead we may well lose our beaches entirely to sand erosion”.
In the past, and it does not matter how long ago it was, the reefs the breakwater is built upon, LaBella reef, the islands and Point Pickering would all have been one land mass. Erosion over time has seen all this land taken away in the same way that we see erosion taking place to the west of Pickering Point and Thunder Point. Secondly, there would have been a time when the area of Lake Pertobe was open to the sea. However, over the ages Lake Pertobe did gradually become a silt bed and the rock peninsular that once was, did erode. So if you can picture that shape with the Harris Street reserve once being part of Lake Pertobe, the Lady Bay was the same shape then as it is now, except that it is much smaller now. By comparison, the bay is in its death throws now. Siltation has always been a part of Lady Bay. From Point Richie the sand slowly changes from a coarse heavy grit to the fine silt that washes ashore in worm bay. Wave pressure on the shore moves lighter silt and seaweed into the bay. The dune buildup is so subtle that we can forget. Remember the surf club was on the edge of the sand dune and not behind them? And McGennan car park too? And who can remember the old kiosk where in a storm waves could pass through the building and actually wash across Pertobe Road? The entire bay has been filling up with silt, forever past. Building the second wall of a marina inside the breakwater wall will change nothing considering the overall size of Lady Bay. Sand will simply start building up against the new wall, same as it did against the breakwater and then, the boat ramp, same as it did in Lake Pertobe, long ago. There is one natural fantastic blessing that needs to be considered in building a marina. The last section of the breakwater wall spans two reefs and has collapsed in between the reefs due to wave pressure pushing the sand out from underneath. Rocks were dumped over the back of the breakwater wall to try and stop any further undermining of the wall. The sea can be heard hissing through the concrete blocks and on a clear day, it can be seen that the harbour bottom is deeper along the edge of the wall because of this action. The point being is that this wave action if utilised correctly could be continuously pumping clean water through the marina and at the same time working against any silt/sand that may tend to wash into the entrance. An enclosed marina is the only possibility of securing a boat harbour in Warrnambool, long term. And we should not make the mistake of building a marina so small that it is unviable to pay for itself through its intentional purposes.
John Droste, Woodford
I wish to take issue with your guest columnist, Bruce Ingrey (The Standard, October 13) re same sex marriage - where do you get these people from, by the way? Like so many others that have a cause they wish to push or champion, he falls for the old "when you have nothing worthwhile to say, call people names". He says that opponents to same-sex marriage will still have their religion, bigotry and homophobia to console them in their anger and self-righteousness (that would seem to be the pot calling the kettle black). I oppose same sex marriage. I am not a bigot, am not religious (I am an atheist) and am not homophobic. My reasons have nothing to do with those issues. The pro-homosexual lobby has usurped the word "gay" and are trying to redefine the whole concept of "rainbow". Now they wish to redefine marriage. I have absolutely no problem with gay people receiving legal recognition for their relationships and they certainly should have all the legal rights that non-gays have, but I am sick and tired of this movement that is almost trying to say that gays are more normal than the rest of us - and let's face it, homosexuality, no matter how you cut it, is not the norm. What's next - will it be made compulsory? Laws protect minority groups from discrimination and vilification. If they also protected members of the majority then Mr Ingrey would certainly be in hot water for his gross generalisation and vilification of anyone who has views differing from his.
Ian Marr, Allansford
Train time questions
The Victorian Coalition's November 2014 election policy partly copied by Daniel Andrews and Labor was to introduce a fourth weekday as well as an extra Sunday train each way on V/Line's Warrnambool line. The Coalition welcomes progress in providing extra train trips.
However south-western Victorians should be careful that Labor and Public Transport Victoria's proposed weekday departure time of 5.13pm from Southern Cross is practical and that it does not have a hidden Labor agenda.
The Coalition suggested this extra train depart Melbourne at 3.45pm to be more evenly spaced between existing early afternoon and evening trains and minimise Geelong, South Geelong and Waurn Ponds commuters taking up unreserved seats on board a 5.13pm train from Southern Cross.
The Coalition designed this timetable as between Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool, there are only two passing loops where trains can meet. The rest is single track.
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan should explain how Camperdown, Warrnambool and Port Fairy residents will find seats on a new peak period departure from Southern Cross if many Geelong local travellers crowd the unreserved carriage(s).
Ms Allan and local Labor MP Gayle Tierney may also have an agenda of 'proving' that patronage on the 7.00pm evening weekday train is poor once the extra train commences, allowing Labor to slyly reduce the frequency back to three weekday trains each way.
Despite community consultation, Labor has yet to state whether V/Line road coach connections to important centres such as Port Fairy and Portland will be offered to and from each Warrnambool train.
Given that the Coalition made an innovative, greater than $170 million commitment to investment in Victoria's country long distance train timetables that Labor has only partly matched, the Coalition will be closely watching the fine detail of Labor's local rail policy.
David Hodgett MP, Opposition public transport spokesman
Reject firefighters’ EBA
I believe as a community we deserve strong, efficient and highly trained emergency services staff, including Career Firefighters, Volunteers CFA Members, Ambulance, Police and the SES.
On three occasions fire has threatened my property, and this has made me acutely aware of the need for a strong response, and it heightened my understanding of the need for surge capacity for major fires in Victoria.
Prior to having the privilege to represent the South West Coast I served as a nurse and have a family history in emergency services, I understand the pressures on first responders, however I cannot excuse inefficiency and financial wastage of communities hard earned money.
The Warrnambool Fire Station sat idle for months after the United Firefighters Union used its veto power to not use a $8 million building due to minor issues. Warnambool’s CFA station currently has professional local volunteers supported by six career firefighters per shift. The current integration at the station has seen the loss of buildings and damage in Warrnambool decrease.
The EBA the Andrews Government has endorsed and one Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria oppose, will have an impact on the safety of Volunteers and the community, demands four extra paid staff. The net result would have no positive impact on safety in community at a huge cost to the Fire Service Levy, your money.
The current roster system allows Firefighters to sleep if they are not called out, and with the extra staff the $8 Million station will require renovations for extra beds, is this money well spent?
Daniel Andrews needs to consider the local priorities, crime in Victoria is increasing, violent crime is now daily news, drug use in the regions continues to create local issues and we have one police divisional van on each shift to protect 35,000 people.
On behalf of the local community, and after many people approaching my office about localised crime issues, I call on the Andrews Government to reject an EBA that could cost Victoria $662 Million dollars and focus on more police and reducing crime.
The community and I appreciate the Career and Volunteer firefighters who protect us 24 hours a day; we understand the need to have an effective volunteer service for surge capacity during major events and we know there is not an unlimited level of money available to take from local families, so we must prioritise.
Roma Britnell MP Member for South West Coast