Nick Thies, Warrnambool

Warrnambool CBD shops struggling.  Liebig Street looks like a go cart track complete with dirt.  Everything screaming give some support to the shop owners and now there is a rise in parking fees? I thought I was seriously seeing things when I read that in The Standard. I am afraid you are sealing the lids on the coffins of the poor shop keepers who will be understandably disgruntled about this decision. People will put up with the mess and the extra trouble to get their shopping done in the CBD but don’t slam them before the completion of the street. I’m sorry I don’t see this as anything else but bad coming out of this decision. Do not put these machines to the enhanced rate until the work has been completed, I implore you. This move is a bit of a slap in the face to people who have been supportive of the changes to the CBD.

David MacPhail, Warrnambool

Once again Warrnambool City Council has failed to even notice the elephant in the room. We are spending huge sums of money on making the CBD precinct more appealing, but they keep forgetting that the majority of people using that area get there in cars. Instead of making the area more car-friendly, what do they do?  Amongst other things that negatively impact on car usage, they are going to place pedestrian crossings at the exit points of roundabouts. This has the potential of causing traffic chaos as vehicles are unable to exit the intersection and so clog up the entire area, which in turn increases the danger both to drivers and pedestrians (something they are supposedly trying to achieve). Now they are going to increase parking fees.  If they were fair dinkum they would be providing free time-based parking - both on-street and off-street.  Warrnambool has major centres to its west, north and east (there would also be one to the south if that were possible).  Why?  Because intelligent planners know that they can trap the car user in a friendly and free environment before they get to the CBD. Why would you bother visiting the CBD at all unless there was some imperative that gave you no other choice?

Ian Marr, Allansford

A Human Right is a right which belongs to every person, no matter who they are. The Australian Human Rights Commission states: From 1 August 2013 it is unlawful to discriminate against a person on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status under federal law. Same-sex couples are now also protected from discrimination under the definition of ‘marital or relationship status’. Australia has done everything but call the union of LGBTIQ people 'marriage' and our Federal Government is a hair's breadth away from legalising Marriage Equality. This week Warrnambool City Council unanimously voted in support of that change but the very next day, in a tasteless move, The Standard invited readers to vote on the issue, giving credence to the ignorance and bigotry of the minority and further insulting those who continue to be denied this basic Human Right. It is akin to the 1967 Referendum debate on Aboriginal status. Until then Aborigines had been excluded from Australian citizenship, including the right to vote (1962), to be counted in a census, to be a part of an electorate and to be subject to Commonwealth laws and benefits in relation to wages and social security such as maternity allowances and old age pensions. The public debate on that issue was often cruel and demeaning.  History will view the debate on Marriage Equality in precisely the same light and this week, most of us find ourselves wondering why the local paper gives anyone the opportunity to vote against the Human Rights of others.

Robert Dart, Warrnambool

On learning Warrnambool City Council had voted on behalf of our community to support the redefinition of marriage (though they didn't call it that), I felt disappointed and betrayed. Disappointed that some of the doubtful arguments now familiar to us were used to gain council acceptance; and betrayed that unanimous support was given for that clever but misleading slogan "Marriage Equality" by which is actually meant the union of two people regardless of gender. Marriage isn't just about how two adults feel about each other. Traditionally, and dare I say in accordance with nature, societies have deemed it to be in their best interests to define marriage as the union of two persons of opposite gender - a man and a woman - for life, to the exclusion of all others, in order to promote societal stability and provide the most secure and natural ideal for the procreation (where possible) and nurture of children. People who wish to live in same-sex relationships have the freedom to do so, but please don't tell us that changing the definition of marriage in law won't make any difference to the rest of us. I suggest that the council’s report on its decision severely strains the interpretation of the role of local government. So I ask the question, what business has the council in deciding such matters of conscience and morality on behalf of the rest of us? Perhaps council should concentrate first on the 3Rs of roads, rubbish and recreation grounds. It is my sincere hope that the people of Warrnambool will be astute enough not only to see through the "marriage equality" misnomer, but in light of the council's exceptional presumption and overreach, they will also take action to see that it becomes a matter of public record that the Warrnambool City Council's position on this issue is by no means representative of all the people of this city.

 Alec Witham,  Warrnambool 

I read with interest the city council’s involvement in supporting gay marriage. Surely our councillors should be concentrating on leading the city on infrastructure and facilities for all. This is not a council subject. Leave this to those who have the proper authority and concentrate on what you were voted in to do.

Jean Burley, Dennington

I am at total dismay as to the actions of Warrnambool City Council’s strict parking inspectors during the Fun4Kids festival. While we dined with out of town friends in a local restaurant, said friends were being issued a $70 parking ticket. After coming from Melbourne, transferring their money to our local economy for accommodation, meals, festival tickets, fuel and other expenses, they have been left with a pretty sour taste in their mouths. While acknowledging they hadn't fed the meter, surely the technology exists for inspectors to run the plates and see these people aren't locals (who would be used to the panic caused by scouring for loose change and the fear of unforgiving inspectors) and issue them with a friendly warning or reminder. Imagine being in an unfamiliar town, driving past several empty car parks, unloading a car full of children under 8, not seeing a physical meter, as you are in an end bay, keen to try a burger ranked in the world’s top 50 and (gasp) you overlook putting a dollar in the meter! Now that lunch has just cost a young hardworking family $130. While taking a swipe at parking laws is pretty easy to do and WCC can justify the revenue raising in multiple ways we've all heard before, wouldn't a small relaxing of attitude during the school holidays allow visitors to leave our city with positive experiences and encouraging their friends to visit?

Ben McKenzie, Warrnambool​

The intersection of Caramut Road and Coghlans Road in Warrnambool has become very busy and it may be necessary to have traffic lights installed there. The reason for the much increased traffic along Caramut Road appears to be that the populations of Mailors Flat and Winslow have increased over recent years with many people commuting to and from Warrnambool. Furthermore, the new Wollaston estate is likely to add to the traffic volume coming along Wollaston Road now and certainly more once it's fully established. It can be difficult for motorists on Coghlans Road to enter or cross Caramut Road from both directions. Ryan's Transport, the saleyards and other businesses along Coghlans Road regularly contribute to traffic at that intersection. It may be time to install traffic lights for better safety as a priority and for better traffic flow as well. It would probably be sufficient for the green signal along Coghlans Road to be fairly short, but enough to allow safe entry or crossing of Caramut Road. Community and council discussions on the matter may lead to contacting the relevant authority, I believe the RTA of Victoria.

Anton Maurus, Warrnambool