Fuel super stop fantastic for Yarragon

I just found out on the electronic grapevine that their is a planning permit request out for a new service station and three food places to the west of Yarragon.

Fantastic. It’s far enough away from our village to not give any traffic problems.

It gives us a choice of fuels. It gives us a chance for part time employment both old and young people.

If it is anything like the super-stops up further, it will be convenient and effective. I really don't think it will cause too much upheaval to the village, as people will stop and browse first anyway.

But some feathers are being ruffled and the squawking has begun. We have a growing population here and we need to accept progress. This little chook is quite happy in her nest, dont know about some of the traders.

Gwen Hunter, Yarragon

Now Palmerston St is going to be clogged up with new “landscape” as well. Who gets paid to make these decisions.

Warragul needs someone to build a new shopping complex on Queen Street, on that vacant land below Bunnings. Warragul business could move in, thinning out the congestion of shops and parking in the streets.

With plenty of parking to do your shopping in the one place, people would shop in Warragul instead of going to (Midvalley or Fountain Gate) bringing more shoppers to the town.

I only go to Warragul when the services I require are not available anywhere else and because of the congestion

Wendy Parfitt, Trafalgar

Why isn't Agriculture Victoria trying harder to enforce the Catchment and Land Protection Act?

If the police failed to attempt to prosecute someone who had broken the law there would be a public outcry about the miscreant “getting away with it.”

Why does Agriculture Victoria fail in its duty to to enforce the Catchment and Land Protection Act? Doesn't it care?

There are weedy properties across our district where seed from uncontrolled ragwort, thistles and blackberries is degrading neighbouring properties, costing neighbours significant amounts of time and money and giving neighbours a future long term burden of weed control on the property.

Agriculture Victoria are not supporting landowners who “do the right thing.” Hardworking farmers are not only controlling their own weeds but Agriculture Victoria expects them, through community involvement, to educate their neighbours educating and encourage weed control.

This is a recipe for neighbourhood conflict and ill feeling. Agriculture Victoria, a third party which has the responsibility of enforcing the CaLP Act, should act on behalf of affected landowners and the environment. Agriculture Victoria should not be relying on local groups and individuals to do it for them.

There are Gippsland properties which, at the moment have such thick ragwort that is looks like a canola crop.

Would an unsuspecting purchaser of one of these properties, known to Agriculture Victoria through complaints from neighbours, be able to sue Agriculture Victoria for failing to serve a Land Management Notice on the property? I hope so.

This situation has to be fixed. Agriculture Victoria should be serving Land Management Notices on problem properties and, if these are contested and rejected, proposing changes to the CaLP Act which will enable them to do their job properly and protect our environment and those property owners who “do the right thing.” The Police initiate legislative change why can't Agriculture Victoria?

The CaLP Act also binds the Crown. Why do we have weeds along our main roads and railway lines? Is Agriculture Victoria taking these other government departments to task? It doesn't seem so.

After almost 40 years of a no seed policy our farm is growing ragwort, blackberries and thistles where it has been clean. This is the result of Agriculture Victoria not taking timely action on neighbouring properties.

Agriculture Victoria’s theory that a “dirty property” must be surrounded by “clean properties” before it will take action is totally wrong. If there is one clean property the owner should get support from Agriculture Victoria. I am angry as the system is failing us and many other farmers.

Agriculture Victoria's callous treatment of land owners who do obey the CaLP Act and whose efforts are undermined by recalcitrant neighbours must change. Agriculture Victoria should serve Land Management Notices on these recalcitrants and advertise their actions – the results might surprise them.

A Bullen, Tetoora Road