REMEMBER TO PRESERVE WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO US

Many people in this city have spent their lives trying to convince “the powerbrokers” of what is important for a city to survive.

We have watched Ballarat and Bendigo spend money on their precious heritage listed buildings — seen how these cities have grown beyond the second largest city in Victoria, Geelong, while ours have been bastardised with facades, demolition by neglect and money wasted.

The Barwon Water aqueduct needed strengthening decades ago. I believe it is the only one like it left in the world. The things that most of us hold dear to our hearts and would bring the tourists in — we have seen be lost to us.

Some years ago now some of Geelong’s businessmen proposed we have a western wedge, most of the people were not 100 per cent sold on this idea — yet if these powerful people wait long enough, we see these things evolving; it’s only those of us who cared in the first place or who have been here “forever” remember what has been proposed.

I have newspaper clippings from years ago stating that CoGG were down the gurgler for $91 million, Barwon Water $80 million. Now I would ask who is owning the new Barwon Water building and who is leasing it? Where have the dollars come from to make the City solvent?

Who are the administrators accountable to — the people; the state government? Fair questions that should be asked.

One thing that is also very import- ant is the Ramsar Wetlands, the Saltworks are another place being neglected, with developers salivating as I write.

Sandra Camm, Highton