Mike Raetz, Port Fairy

I was incensed reading the article about the proposed drug rehabilitation centre. The steering committee has attended three public meetings about the proposed site and none of those meetings addressed the concerns, in fact they served to create more and all meetings demonstrated the strong opposition to the choice of site. The Dennington community supports the concept of a rehab centre but knows that it cannot work at Atkinson's Lane. Anyone else with any common sense and knowledge of the issues at stake also clearly sees the problems with the site. Further, that site will also cause untold hardship for the close neighbours and their farming and business pursuits will suffer terminally. This choice has to be stopped if we want a successful residential rehabilitation program.

Richard Ziegeler, Dennington

The poetic piece titled “footprints” comes to mind when addressing the ongoing saga regarding the access, use and enjoyment of our coastline beaches. As a frequent user I am grateful to be able to step onto that expanse of sandy beach, experience the gritty sensation on my feet, the heat, warmth, coolness depending where you step. To be greeted by a zephyr breeze, a warm north wind or a  blustery southerly brings that therapeutic sensation delivered by the sea, sand and sky. Whether walking alone, with a friend or perhaps accompanied by or carrying a child, your footprints appear as you progress and can just as quickly disappear obliterated by drifting sand or reclaiming sea. Besides the prints we humans make,  we observe the indentations made by other sharers of this space, paws, hoofs, seabirds, marks made by dragged surfboards, other water toys, tyre marks evidence of beach cleaning vehicles or life saving vehicles, holes dug by children, sandcastles , signs of fishermen searching for bait, each beach user leaving their temporary signature all to be reclaimed by the next high tide. What footprint will you leave, will it represent a leisurely stroll or perhaps a march of protest? I am appalled at the debate involving laws, orders, legal requirements, threats from organisations, politicians, both local and outsiders. Ironically this issue sparked a long-bowed analogy regarding battles on beaches reflecting on the horrendous mortality rate inflicted on human, animal and bird life, the footprints of war washed clean by the eternal seas, still the memories linger.  Consider the issues at stake, now and then, philosophies, rights to occupation, self-interest and the victims, humans, animals, birds and their environment. I do hope reason and compromise plays a role. As for me, I hope to continue my beach walks, irrespective of the presence of other users, be they human, animals or birds. If you demand a pristine beach bereft of any signs of human or animal habitation, I suggest you devote your leisure time to perusing travel brochures.

Brian Kavanagh, Warrnambool

The landowner and Future Energy decided to establish a wind farm on the landowner’s property in East & West Road Timboon. When they visited the neighbours it didn’t matter what objections were made because the government is rubber-stamping wind farm permits across the state. Corangamite Shire said it was out of their hands. The control of these permits should be returned to councils so ratepayers affected by these decisions can be treated more fairly. We are left with an uneconomical, noisy, blight on the landscape and BayWar.e  Renewable Energy will move onto another unsuspecting community.

Bill Anderson, Timboon 

As one of the quiet majority, I feel annoyed that I have to submit this at all. We have the best country racing carnival in Australia, maybe world and there is nowhere for horses to train on the beach. Here we have an opportunity to help an industry grow in this area and perhaps become a premier horse training area but what do we do? We put roadblocks in the way. It doesn't make sense.  As a ratepayer, I want the councillors to make an effort to see what the majority want and not be railroaded into a decision by a vocal minority group. I have no interest in horses apart from going to our May Racing Carnival on the Thursday.  Matter of fact, I don't even like riding them. In today's day and age it is impossible to keep everyone happy so let's just do the right thing and find a beach within a practicable travelling distance from Warrnambool for the trainers to use.

Ken Peddle, Allansford

Re Tammy Good’s comments, and the frustration for trainers regarding the recent course of events. I just wanted to voice a few things in response to the frustration experienced by citizens and ratepayers who have become the least considered party in regards to racehorse training on our local beaches. I dispute the statement that horse training environments like Lady Bay and generally any beach with long straight stretches, and the wading effects of sea water cannot be replicated in another environment. Of course they can, it takes good planning, appropriate land (not public owned) and the appropriate Industry supported investment. If Racing Victoria and Warrnambool Racing Club cannot financially help trainers (and we all know how much money this industry can generate, sadly), then one can only assume that they are morally and intellectually corrupt, and not worth as much as the hot air it generates. In regards to the proposal that $400,000 be provided by Warrnambool Racing Club to build a wash down facility for race horses adjacent to the car park area at Lady Bay foreshore.  Why can't this money be used toward building appropriate horse training infrastructure on private land for all trainers to use? I cannot help but think that this would be common sense. Tammy mentions that most horse people are animal lovers. I am not sure that in essence, this statement can be true given the information available these days regarding the welfare of horses which are churned through by the Racing Industry (with particular note to the non profitable race horses) that end up being disposed of in the most awful way. Despite this, being an animal lover does not necessarily mean that you understand the importance and the necessity for protecting the great diversity of wildlife and vegetation which live on and use our coastline environments for survival. Environmentally speaking, horses can and do create as much damage as four wheel drive vehicles churning through beach plant and dune structures, not to mention the effect of frightening and harassing wildlife and people. To Tammy and the South West Owners and Trainers Association, I think you have all had the best run possible using our beautiful beaches for so long, but enough is enough. It is time for you to take on the responsibility of sourcing your own facilities and stop depending on using (and damaging) our community's beautiful recreational beaches.

Monique Ferrier, Warrnambool