Pledges speak louder
Re Gary Sayer’s letter (The Standard, August 4). Clearly, Mr Sayer is forgetting it is still four months from the state election and hasn’t noticed the Liberals have so far committed much more to South West Coast than Labor’s candidate Kylie Gaston. Aside from a commitment to Warrnambool and District Food Share and a plan to establish the Great Ocean Road Authority, Mr Sayer neglected to mention the Liberal Party has previously committed $633 million to buy new trains for all country rail lines, including the Warrnambool line. He also has forgotten the Liberals are the only party who has made a commitment to redevelop the Warrnambool Base Hospital and have promised to bring back the Country Roads and Bridges fund, which Labor scrapped at the disillusionment of local governments. The Liberal Party have also committed to establish a rural crime squad, which will strengthen existing programs, there is also a commitment to invest $5.3 million in agricultural research and development, and a $40 million pledge to establish Grow Victoria Food and Fibre Exports program. That’s just a few key policies which will benefit South West Coast and there will be more to come as we approach the election in November. I’m looking forward to hearing of Ms Gaston and Labor’s commitment to Warrnambool and District Food Share. Given she is a member of the board, I would expect it should an easy sell for her and will mean Food Share is the winner - no matter who is in government.
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Roma Britnell, Member for South West Coast
Hospital project fears
I am writing re my concerns for the new extension of South West Healthcare into Timor Street where the emergency service is to be situated. Trying to drive along Timor Street during the day is near impossible with two-way traffic let alone having emergency service vehicles frequently trying to navigate it. Parking around the hospital is near impossible and the proposed carpark will not clear the streets. A study of the traffic flow and car parking facilities around the hospital is needed before proceeding further with this plan. The ideal option would be to bite the bullet and build a well planned hospital out at Deakin University with plenty of room for car parking, public transport and easy access for Emergency vehicles. The survival of Deakin University could be helped greatly by the hospital being out there with shared facilities. The trouble with our area is we are in a blue ribbon electorate, though we do have Dan Tehan as a federal minister and James Purcell as a state independent.
Helen Tredinnick, Port Fairy
Green energy support
Once again Corangamite councillors speak out against wind farms in the region with little consultation with the local community, the meeting held in Noorat was largely a political stunt based on the coalition’s poorly devised energy strategy that will leave south-west Victoria with expensive and unreliable electricity supplies for the next decade or so. South-west Victoria is the largest supplier of dairy products in this country and must have electricity supplies that are both reliable and cheap, solar and wind energy generation are the two best options for this region, council should be supporting companies willing to invest millions of dollars in the region not making it more and more difficult for them to invest here. This week the issue is power lines, have the councillors looked around the streets, we have power lines in every street, substations in each town, these are not pretty but we need electricity and we need some way to transport it. The two councillors who have taken up this stance against sustainable green energy can’t even see the power lines from their properties, the lines stretch across my view and I have no problems with them as they are a much better alternative to the smoke-reeking towers needed for coal power generation. Please don’t forget that councillors are voted in to represent the local community and assist in moving the region forward, I don’t remember any councillor presenting a policy against green energy generation in the region prior to the last council election.
Rob Graham, Terang
Light up and live
If driving conditions are poor, raining or poor light, can I suggest it would be a good idea to turn on your lights. Not rocket science, just a safe driving hint. I continue to be amazed at the lack of judgement many drivers convey in not realizing that to be seen is to be safe and yet they do not recognise that when they are approaching them without lights in such conditions the penny does not drop. You may have an issue with the current cost of power, but headlights don't cost a cent yet are a great safety asset. Drivers, just think outside the square and be safe for yourself and all other road users.
Norm Henry, Illowa
