Bright ideas
It was a breath of fresh air to read it is possible to have bright, alert councillors able to focus on the project details (Game Day 'huge mistake', The Standard, 3/11) but did anyone spot the throwaway line about the lighting upgrade?
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Hopefully the Glasgow gathering will have put climate change more firmly on the councillors' radar from now on and it will be realised that installing energy-guzzling lights to play games is exactly what we humans must stop doing.
Previous sportspeople have lead fullfilled lives without having their daytime hobby impinge on end-of-day time, so no great sacrifice is involved in cancelling the lighting upgrade.
Warrnambool City Council could even aspire to persuade groups with night lighting to not use it anymore - saving the world one small change at a time!
Shirley Duffield, Warrnambool
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'Keep harness track'
I was very disappointed to read of the decision by DELWP forcing the Warrnambool Harness club to vacate their racing centre at Thunder Point.
Forty years ago this area was a public tip. The harness club worked tirelessly to develop the racing centre, largely through volunteer's efforts. Not only were there harness meetings, community events such as pop up drive-ins were enjoyed by many.
The decision is consistent with DELWP's reluctance to allow our council to clear and clean up the area between Worm Bay to Viaduct Road. This area poses a huge fire hazard to the buildings and activities of Coast Guard, Yacht Club, Light Fishing and Pavilion restaurant as well as promenade walkers. In his letter last Saturday Bruce Campbell mentions native habitats in this area, but in fact it is an overgrown eyesore. Native birds and plants have hundreds of acres west of the Merri River which is off limits to the public. Whatever happened to 'Social Licence' which DELWP preaches, where the will of the majority is listened to and acted on?
Community use of areas deemed as Crown Land should be given greater consideration, especially the Lake Pertobe/Lady Bay precinct which has community and tourist importance.
Tammy Good, Warrnambool
'Fix the breakwater'
In regards to the front page headline: Review urgent - AquaZone is fast becoming unfit, it is amazing that this new council has seen to have forgotten about the ageing breakwater.
Some of these new councillors in there interviews prior to the council elections spoke that the breakwater was one of their main priorities that had to be fixed, but now there in on the council it's been pushed aside (re: too hard basket case) again.
I just think that I as a fisherman will just launch my boat in the new pool at the AquaZone as looks like it might be finished before the breakwater.
Peter Jewell, Warrnambool
'Appalling conditions'
I'm writing to highlight the appalling situation of the COVID-19 50 per cent transmission rate in immigration detention in Park Hotel, Melbourne. In any other facility this would not be tolerated.
I have phoned and emailed various federal ministers, including our local MP Dan Tehan. I am yet to get a response.
I call on the federal government and IHMS to allow the appropriate Victorian public health unit to enter the facility and assess it regarding COVID-safe set-up and practices, and to manage it as is deemed appropriate. There is certainly precedent for state health officials to take over management of facilities the federal government is responsible for. This occurred in Victorian Aged Care earlier in the pandemic.
A statement released by ABF says: "The ABF and contracted service providers are working with the Victorian Public Health Unit to ensure a comprehensive response in accordance with Health guidelines and advice." It is obvious the response is NOT comprehensive, nor in accordance with standard health care practice for COVID. It is absolutely negligent.
The uninfected men should immediately be moved - it is impossible to isolate them from the sick men when they share the kitchen, lifts and other areas. And when guards enter rooms of both infected and uninfected men.
The men with COVID should have access to the same 24/7 remote COVID-monitoring all Victorian residents receive. They should have access to the same level of care. Instead they do not even get paracetamol sometimes, and ambulances are turned away.
Delia Crabbe, Warrnambool
Evidence is clear
To add salt to the wounds, Scott Morrison has been accused of lying by one of the most respected leaders in Europe, Emmanuel Macron.
Mr Morrison's response is he won't take sledges against Australia. Mr Macron in fact said, "I have a lot of respect and a lot of friendship for the Australian people." The liar comment was directed at one person: Mr Morrison. The little schoolyard bully has come up against the big kids and has been found sadly wanting. This trip is the worst overseas trip since Hawaii.
While on the topic of Mr Morrison, I wonder why this federal government continues to disallow the establishment of a truly independent corruption commission? Look back over the time Mr Morrison has been Prime Minister and make a list of the rorts, pork barrelling and total mishandling of every crisis we have faced as a nation and answer will become crystal clear.
Gavin Arnott, Allansford
Confidential for a reason
I must be missing something but since when does the Australian government blurt out every detail about something as sensitive as the submarine contract? Do journalists or lawyers or accountants blab to the world confidential matters between them, their client and say, the ATO or the public?
Reality check for the French - Australia's strategic position shifted during the initial phases of the contract due to the behaviour of the CCP; hardly a secret. The French nuclear-powered option features old technology requiring regular refuelling and reactor servicing, hence a domestic nuclear industry. The US and UK options use the latest modular reactor which can run for decades and can be replaced during the usual major refits these vessels undergo.
There is enough sensitivity in the issues there that both sides of the issue must be kept confidential. So Mr Macron, grow up and grow a pair and perhaps keep that ambassador of yours back in France because he sounds much like the CCP 'wolf warrior' who recently went home.
Mike Seward, Port Fairy
Think of others for once
The anti-vaxxers and assorted skeptics who recently made some noise along Liebig Street into the Civic Green impressed few of us. The same people should pause and consider where the rest of us are at. We are concerned about this virus and public health safety for all, and are not impressed with their unvaccinated "freedoms " to infect and possibly kill others. It's not rocket science but very much based in medical reality.
Tony Delaney, Warrnambool
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