Help humans

From time to time I have visited several of the caravan parks in Baw Baw Shire.

Accommodation quality seems to range from five star to one star.

One star accommodation costs $100 per week plus power charges. Many of our unemployed, chronically ill or otherwise unfortunate residents have no other option than this.

Many of the caravans are old, decrepit, small, uninsulated and basically in need of replacement. On a number of occasions the Baw Baw Shire Council has been asked, to do something about this state of affairs.

They conveniently disavow any responsibility by stating, that, as the most antique and rundown “parks” are privately owned, there is nothing they can do, other than ensure there is no obvious health hazard to the residents.

Imagine then my surprises when I read on the front page of last week’s Gazette that the council has spent $1.2m on a cattery and dogerry, on the far western boundary of this vast shire, and in addition plans to spend another $0.2m on improvements and renovations.

I presume that the stray cats, dogs, horses and cows complained about the current accommodation at the far more centrally located site in Warragul loudly enough that the shire councillors and staff decided to “do something”.

It’s very hard to imagine that the current facility couldn’t have been brought up to six star standard for far less than $1.2m plus and satisfy the most fussy lost poodle or tabby.

Getting back to our unfortunate fellow humans though, perhaps the shire could take a far greater interest in caravan parks. I know for a fact that a long term lease is on the market for one of these caravan parks for far less than half the price of the proposed new animal pound.

The council would then have the opportunity to replace, repair and rejuvenate the current dwellings and facilities over a realistic time frame.

Perhaps then we could feel assured that our council cares more about our fellow humans, than stray cats and dogs. Geoff Campbell Warragul