Lift game for tourists
My partner and I spent a wonderful Easter in Warrnambool and surrounds however our stay was spoilt somewhat by poor or inaccurate tourist information. For example, I wanted to travel on the Southwest Transit route 8 bus to Port Fairy however both the information on the PTV app and the 'I am Warrnambool' map (available at many places in the region) still showed the bus interchange in Koroit Street rather than Lava Street. This interchange was moved over 12 months ago yet there is still bus stops and line markings in the former location. To the unsuspecting visitor from out of town this leads to obvious confusion (and in my case I missed my bus). Secondly, and given the tragic loss of two local surf lifesavers at Port Campbell, the signage warning visitors of the dangers of straying from the boardwalks and paths is in English. International tourism has boomed in this part of Victoria in recent years and there needs to be a better effort to warn non-English speaking background visitors of the dangers. The quest for the ultimate (and selfish) selfie on a cliff face will have tragic consequences. Warrnambool and the south-west coast is a beautiful part of this state. Basic tourist information such as maps and signage need to ensure that it is accurate and caters to all.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Steven Haby, Gisborne
Make it marginal
A clarion call to all Liberal voters in Wannon. If you want the federal government (Liberal or Labor) to spend money in our electorate to fix roads, invest in our community, then you need to make this a marginal seat by taking the difficult plunge and voting Labor at the upcoming federal election. The future of our electorate is in your hands.
Nick Thies, Warrnambool
Keep pushing road upgrade
It is wonderful to see the great work being done by the Princes Highway West Action Alliance lobbying for our main road and demanding that governments of all persuasions "Fix it Now". The dual carriageway from Warrnambool to Port Fairy is an obvious fix for that section of road and should happen immediately. Unfortunately the advocacy for more passing lanes between Colac and Warrnambool could lead to a sub-standard result for our main road.
Governments can promise passing lanes and gradually construct them over many years and rightly claim they are delivering on the community's request.
Passing lanes are not the answer. They cause great frustration and encourage bad decisions.
We can all relate to the slow car that increases speed or the two caravans that require us to pass at a speed in excess of the limit, given the short opportunity to overtake. In my view drivers are encouraged to break the law when negotiating passing lanes.
Clearly a safe efficient and affordable solution for the current and foreseeable traffic count is a 2 + 1 road west of Colac.
A "two plus one road" is a predominately a three-lane road with a passing option that alternates every two or three kilometres and has been favoured by Vicroads, is exceptionally safe and only 25 per cent to 30 per cent of the cost of dual carriageway.
I would strongly encourage the Alliance to stick with the advocacy around 2 + 1 and strongly oppose passing lanes. One day the bleeding obvious will be supported and delivered.
Chris O'Connor, Terang
- Letters on election issues must bear the name and full address of the writer(s). Responsibility for election comment is accepted by Greg Best, editor of The Standard. Writers should disclose any alliance with political or community organisations and include their phone number for verification. Election candidates should declare themselves as such when submitting letters.
