YOUR VIEWS
I HAVE read the numerous suggestions from journalists and commentators that the older generation should be taxed at a higher level because it is they who are being most protected from the virus while the younger generation are going to be paying for years.
That is, the younger generation should not be subsidising the older generation. I am now waiting for those same journalists and commentators to come forward with suggestions that because of the Victorian Government’s ineptitude, Victoria should at least meet a portion of the additional costs being imposed on the balance of Australia.
Anyone for a suspension of Victoria’s GST share for say five years as a start? BILL TURNER, HOPE ISLAND
HAVING read the very accurate and informative letter from Phillip Follent, former Queensland Government Architect (GC Bulletin, August 24), we find we must bring to notice what we believe is another incorrect but extremely necessary requirement of Development Applications, which have simply been “lost” in the matter of time.
A DA was made in the late 1990s for a six-apartment complex at 18-20 O’Connor St, Tugun, the site previously accupied by two small beach houses. A requirement placed on this application was a six-metre land resumption to allow for future street widening of this narrow one-way street.
This requirement still existed in 2001 when an interested party bid at auction for a property at 16 O’Connor St but on being made aware that this land resumption applied, opted to remove their accepted bid.
We now have two DAs in O’Connor St, Tugun one a code accessible application at 36 O’Connor St and one an impact accessible application at 32 & 34 O’Connor Street, both of which have no requirement for future Street widening, even though a total of twenty six off street parking and a number of visitor off street permanent spaces are required.
On questioning the appropriate City of Gold Coast Council relative department, we were advised that there was no current requirement for street widening and strangely, previous record of this requirement could be found, but no record of this requirement ever being retracted. Unfortunately the same result occurred after consulting with Queensland State Government.
We believe this is yet again an example of developer requests being given priority over sensible required planning.
Perhaps the city council, wanting more and more return from rateable properties, is also a part of this ongoing problem.
TERRY AND JEANETTE CAMP, TUGUN
WE all know that Wayne Bartholomew was a significant surfer.
He now looks mid-60s. So, what has he done since? The Labor Party is very short of detail on his suitability to represent my electorate. GEOFF REEVE, BURLEIGH WATERS
JUST before I made the move to the Gold Coast from the ‘Mexican badlands’ in 1990, a friend of my late mother-in-law, a scientist at Lucas Heights where medical isotopes are made, gave me this free advice: That Australia produces the world’s best con artists, and the very finest of them live here on the Gold Coast. DAVID HALL, COOMBABAH
I READ we are going to drop the $1 rural fireys funding from our rates, but we will be able to implement plan B during bush fires.
We will grab one of those $2.2 million ugly, useless surplus light poles and beat out the flames – cet your priorities right Cr Tate. STEVE WREGG, GAVEN
RE: Black Swan Lake, save the last acre. Council has destroyed enough environment. LYN ALCOCK, GOLD COAST
AS one of those Australians who is slowly sinking towards their exit I am appalled at how Scott Morrison has shown his total lack of regard for the aged.
We might be on the downhill PM but we are still alive and hopefully will be around when you ask Australians for another term. DALLAS FRASER, CURRUMBIN
A RECENT survey suggested about 30 per cent of Australians would be reluctant to take a COVID-19 vaccine, should one be developed, over concerns about safety.
Such people could perhaps consider the next best thing – a vitamin D supplement. It has long been known that vitamin D gives protection against respiratory tract infections, and low vitamin D production from the sun in winter is the best explanation for “the Flu Season”. About 30 per cent of Australians are considered to be vitamin D deficient.
It may be no coincidence that the people at greatest risk from COVID-19 (old, Indigenous or overweight) are also the ones who are typically vitamin D deficient.
Growing research suggests that the incidence and severity of COVID-19 are greatly affected by a person’s vitamin D status. Vitamin D supplements are generally considered very safe and are a readily available and cheap alternative for people who don’t want to wait for an effective vaccine that might never arrive. PETER SONNERS, PALM BEACH
FEDERATION in Australia gave three essential tasks to the central Government – maintenance of free trade between states, defence, and quarantine.
But state borders are closed, defence is enfeebled by gender-agenda and poor equipment choices, and they have failed to protect us from foreign pests and viruses. Moreover, Canberra’s green dreams, targets and subsidies have made a monster mess of electricity generation and cost.
These failures suggest that it’s time to restore federalism. Start by getting Canberra out of energy and the environment. At least some states would manage things better and provide a model for others. VIV FORBES, WASHPOOL