Dave MacPhail, Warrnambool

I read with concern recent letters regarding gay marriage. In a society where 6 in 10 young LGBTI people experience verbal homophobic abuse, and same-sex attracted people attempt suicide at a rate 14 times higher than their heterosexual peers, it is important to consider the impact words can have on an already vulnerable population. Imagine a young person who is coming to terms with their sexuality reading in the local paper that some believe “homosexuality is not the norm”, and that any attempt to increase tolerance for peoples of all sexualities is a conspiracy by the “pro homosexual lobby”. Consider the effect that may have on their mental health. It is disturbing that some members of the public feel their “right to be a bigot,” as George Brandis would say, is more important than the right of same-sex attracted people to live their lives free of discrimination and hate speech. I do not write this letter to ignite another argument about a plebiscite, but to urge all those reading to consider the human lives behind the debate, and moderate their language accordingly.

Siobhan Simper, Warrnambool

To say Christmas Day is not a public holiday is an absolute crock. Daniel Andrews is in denial land in saying so. Christmas Day was and is always a public holiday, whatever day it falls on. To deny people who need to work or have to work, penalty rates, for the sacrifice and effort is an absolute disgrace. If penalty rates are taken from workers then the right to open business on Christmas Day should also be denied. You cannot take from one and not the other. If it's felt penalty rates are unfair then don’t open your business. It's simple, businesses cannot have it both ways. So to Daniel Andrews and anyone else that agrees with this nonsense, have yourself a Merry Little Christmas with your loved ones. Don’t spare a care about those working, you obviously don’t need to worry about money or effort at Christmas time. This is wrong in so many ways. I hope people protest and maybe refuse to work if they don’t need to.

Vicki Walter, Warrnambool​

I would like congratulate the new Moyne Council and Cr Jim Doukas for regaining the position of mayor. But in doing so I would like to put the council on notice that the community now expects a lot. This expectation was expressed through the significant number of candidates nominating for the election. Since the majority of candidates stated the shire was in “good order”, the community is expecting this council to maintain that “good order” and to further improve the situation. While popularity may win an election, it does not necessarily mean sound leadership. Sound leadership quite often means making hard decisions and this council will need to make good hard decisions. Moyne Shire’s current mayor is a self-confessed Donald Trump supporter and it is with my heart in my mouth that I hope the style we have witnessed there is not a style that will be delivered here. This council will need to make strong decisions on the shire and region’s future. The on-going future of Great South Coast Group of councils is essential for the wellbeing not only of the region but also the shire. Walling off the shire from the rest of the region so “we can be great again” will cause long-term detrimental impact to the shire’s future. The continued support for the regional library structure is essential, the support and maintenance of community assets such as libraries, halls and pools is critical. The small towns’ project facilitated by Craig Midgely is where the strength of the shire will grow – this program is critical. Private commercial developments such as the regional livestock exchange in Mortlake need full support. With anticipation, we watch this new leadership. What will the strategic future be like?

Ralph Leutton, Port Fairy

As a Warrnambool City Councillor for the last eight years I wish to thank Warrnambool ratepayers for the opportunity to represent them. An enormous amount of positive projects were achieved and will benefit many people for years. Many decisions were not easy but had to be considered and voted on in the best interests of our city for the future and not for personal gain or advantage. During this time I gained a greater appreciation of how local, state and federal government procedures function and am much more informed in the process. I met and worked with some wonderful councillors, council staff and community people and value their friendship and support they gave me. While not successful at the election I wish the new councillors all the best with future decisions and will continue to take an active interest in our great city and continue to be involved in community volunteering. Thank you to those who supported me during my terms and believe I am a better person for the experience and still have my integrity intact.

Rob Askew, Warrnambool

A vote for Peter Hulin as Warrnambool mayor is a vote for disunity and negativity.

Gavin Arnott, Allansford

It is appropriate that our community should congratulate the seven councillors who have been elected to serve on Warrnambool City Council for the next four years and also to acknowledge with thanks the service of the councillors who faithfully served our city during the previous four years. The fact that almost 10 per cent of eligible voters made votes that were informal, indicates that the current system of proportional representation voting is in need of review and is not necessarily the best electoral structure for developing policies for the future of our municipality. When the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) invited submissions and held a public meeting at Warrnambool earlier this year about the most appropriate electoral structure for this city, only a few written submissions were lodged and only three persons attended the VEC’s public meeting at the Civic Centre.

The three submitters who attended the public meeting stressed it was timely for Warrnambool City Council to be served by nine councillors and that the city should be divided into three wards with three councillors to be elected in each ward. The submitters pointed out to the VEC that if a large number of candidates nominated under the proportional representation voting system, there was a very high probability that a large number of informal votes would be recorded based on the previous experiences recorded in large metropolitan municipalities. Regretfully, the VEC opted to recommend to the Minister for Local Government, that she should retain an electoral structure for Warrnambool representing the status quo of having seven councillors to be elected in an unsubdivided municipality, with proportional representation voting to apply. Currently the Minister for Local Government is undertaking a much needed comprehensive review of the Local Government Act.

One of the suggested amendments to the present legislation is to give the Minister the authority to determine the appropriate number of councillors to cater for growth centres such as Warrnambool and also to determine what should be the best electoral structure - for example the re-introduction of wards. For many years, this city was well served under a system of four wards with three councillors elected in each ward. Now that our city has more than 33,000 residents, a reasonable compromise could be to have nine councillors to be elected from three wards, with three councillors then to be elected in each ward. Compulsory postal voting would still apply. With the recent election decided, it is now timely that our community, hopefully with the unified support of the newly elected council, should immediately make submissions to the Minister for Local Government to adopt the proposed recommended change to the Local Government Act. This legislative change, once approved by State Parliament, will give the Minister discretion to approve the suggested electoral structure change for our city.

Our city will then benefit from having an extra two councillors to be elected under a much more manageable ward electoral structure, that will significantly reduce the number of informal votes at the next Council elections to be held in the year 2020.

Vern Robson, Warrnambool

In relation to the horses on beaches issue, I would like to make the following points. After Killarney Beach was impacted by horse training activities last summer, it was me as mayor of Moyne Shire who instigated meetings between Parks Vic, DEWLP, WCC, MSC and Warrnambool Racing Club.  After initial meetings of this working group, other parties involved in the issue were also consulted.  After consultation with my fellow councillors,  I made it clear to this working group, that it was the shire’s position horse training would be banned next summer from Killarney Beach.

I was able to say that because the shire is the committee of management for the Killarney Beach. It is the only part of the coast between Port Fairy and Warrnambool that it is. In looking for an alternative training site the Cutting at the end of Gormans Lane at Tower Hill was discussed, however it did have limitations. I put forward the possibility of using an area located between Mills Reef and the old tip site at Port Fairy. My proposal involved the horses using the beach five days a week, Monday to Friday, from daylight to 10am.  At 10am all horses off beach. This location is in a relatively isolated area and a distance of 3.25km east of the Port Fairy life saving club, and certainly not on East Beach that has been proffered by some commentators.

This idea I discussed with my fellow councillors at the time, the only negative comment about the idea was from Cr Doukas, who made the comment that he thought it was a bit close to the golf club, because of the smell of horse manure in the car park, which may impact the golfers. I also at about this time spoke with James Purcell, MP, who offered me advice as to how financing the  construction of the car park, may be achieved. The working party arrived at a consensus, and Parks Vic officers were to submit a report to their Minister for consideration. Approval for the use of this site as a horse training area is the responsibility of the Minister,  so is the public consultation process, neither of these processes are the responsibility of the Moyne Shire.

As the process  evolved, it became apparent that the shire would not be able to pass the neccesary By law to prohibit horses on Killarney, commencing 1st December. In light of this I had a meeting  with the horse trainers, and asked if they don't go to Killarney Beach from 1st Dec onwards.  In a spirit of goodwill and cooperation, the horse trainers have agreed to this request, even though it will not be law.  I have found the trainers have engaged in a spirit of cooperation all through the issue. Horse racing is an important industry to not only this region but all Victoria. Lets hope that all parties can continue to work together for a successful out come. The beach is a wonderful natural asset, that belongs to every one, not just a select few.

Colin Ryan, Moyne Shire councillor