Renovating and re-purposing old buildings is challenging, but many residents are concerned with the request to change the current on-premises license to a general license.

Neighbors believe that the current on-premises license is sufficient for the activities described in the application.

A general license allows accommodation, dancing, amusement machines, gambling, packaged alcohol sales and a closing time of 3am. These options are not the stated intention of the owners, but a change to a hotel license would allow the current or future owner to introduce these features at any time. Residents accept disruptions to their peaceful town over the summer period and we value the opportunities created by the many businesses that operate here, but the spate of vandalism over the Christmas-New Year period is a reminder of the need to safeguard Port Fairy's reputation as the world's most liveable community.

John Forbes, Port Fairy

Chairman Dan during Victoria's last terrible virus contagion said there was luck involved in this terrible pandemic.

This was proven correct when Victoria had such large numbers and it was obvious that all states were using private security at hotel quarantine. This was verified at the time back in July by the acting chief medical officer at the time Paul Kelly. Victoria just had the bad luck that breaches to the rules were made within our system and it only takes one breach to start this terrible disease off again.

Let's face it. It started with one in Wuhan. To me though the big difference between the states of Victoria and NSW (our largest states) is that Chairman Dan stuck at the huge task of getting those numbers down from the heights they were.

He faced the press every morning among all the criticism and stupid human beings calling for the poor guys blood. We still have to be grateful we are in no way as bad off as countries like the US, UK and most of Europe.

I could name heaps of countries really but we all know them. But a big difference in this tragedy I've noticed is Gladys has been pumping up her own tyres on what a great job she's doing and has been backed up by our PM while back then he was putting all the blame in Victoria on Dan.

His silence with the current situation in NSW really does amaze me. Gladys must have known there was a huge possibility of the virus spreading from the northern beaches. And has.

Instead of being on board to overcome the situation she has chosen a break. Of course everyone needs a rest. But the big difference is Dan copped it from most of the media and all the conservative pollies every morn till he fixed Vic's numbers.

This disease is a new killer that nobody alive now has ever faced before. When things are getting worse as in NSW it's no time to be claiming you are the gold medal state on the disease and going on holiday. It's time to do what Chairman Dan did and fix it. Then take a rest once on top of it.

John Patterson, Warrnambool