Set aside land for wildlife habitat Shocking statistic

I would like to see the planning of our area include wildlife habitat. I think it would be really easy to allow for every farm subdivision to include five per cent of the lowest, cheapest part of the land to be subdivided for natural habitat.

The boundary of each farm would back on to the boundary of the next, effectively doubling the width of the strip of land creating wildlife corridors which we so desperately need.

The 95 per cent of the remaining land would fetch a higher price for the subdivision and the area would fetch premium land prices.

Noosa in Queensland includes land for nature and look at the wonderful place they have. It's so easy to do and to plan for a sustainable future but it needs to be done now.

Give us a place to be proud of. Our local soil and climate are too good to waste.

Karen Duivenvoorden, Drouin

I write in full support of Gaye Trevan (Gaz 27/10) it contains what many letters printed in The Gazette lack; common sense.

You do not need to be ‘a radical green’ (as Gary Blackwood chooses to describe anyone who cares about the environment) to be upset by the fact that Australia has recently been placed fourth on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of countries with the most endangered species behind only the U.S, French Polynesia and Mauritius.

This a shocking statistic that should concern all Australians regardless of their political affiliations.

We simply can’t continue on destroying forests for commercial gain without regard for the environment as VicForests have been doing .There is too much to lose.

Trumpesque letters like those of Lyndon Malley’s (Gazette 20/10) in which he spouts bile against ‘greenies’, ‘leftards’, socialists’, ‘snowflakes’ and ‘tree changers’ serve no purpose whatsoever except to spread hatred.

We can all do a lot better than that. Nobody who cares about the environment wants to ‘bring the timber industry to it’s knees’ as Gary Blackwood has asserted.

What is needed is a sensible apolitical solution. We would all like to have a sustainable local timber industry but this cannot happen when such a massive majority of felled timber is sent to be pulped for paper. An overhaul is needed indeed.

Cathryn Fairbairn, Noojee

Consider non maskers

To all local business owners When people come into your business without a mask please consider that this person may have a medical exemption or disability.

Please do not make them feel like a second class citizen. They are not breaking the law. Nor do they need to explain to you why they have an exemption.

Please consider how they might feel seeing signs saying No Mask No Service. Your understanding would be appreciated.

Katrina Jackson, Warragul

Thank you

Thanks to all the staff where my mum lives in Melbourne. I got to visit her the other day. It was the first time in over six months I got to physically spend time with her (no hugging though). I have tried to help keep others safe.

Thanks to all the staff at the Alfred Hospital.

My brother David spent many weeks in ICU and on a ventilator (not COVID related). He was extremely vulnerable to many things being so weak and so so sick. We feel lucky to have him with us today.

David has worked extremely hard to get fit and moving again; and to help keep others safe.

Thanks also to the all the staff at Lyrebird, and indeed the general community I’m lucky enough to live in. Just last week my wife and I got to spend an hour with Robert (my father in law) in his room with all his memories, photos and the like.

Robert has struggled to understand the world of today and has had to work hard to keep him and others safe.

And now, for my sister in law Michelle and my friend Ben. They have both had loved ones pass away just recently, being her beautiful sister and his maternal grandmother respectively. They couldn’t as a collective family unit grieve, laugh, cry and reminisce like we all need to in such times.

I’m sorry your loss was magnified even though I did my best to try to help you too.

Paul Hunt, Crossover

Positive result

I would like to take this opportunity congratulate my fellow successful candidates in the Baw Baw Shire Council elections and offer my commiserations to those candidates who were not successful.

This election was run under very different circumstances which created challenges for everyone involved. Gaining 35 per cent of the primary vote is quite humbling. I will admit that I do suffer from periods of self-doubt and wonder about the job I’m doing. I know this is not overly rational, however as someone who has experienced decades of overt and covert discrimination it often defines my thinking.

This hugely positive result is something I truly value, both politically and personally. As someone who lives and works in a remote part of the shire, I have always said that small towns, rural and remote areas of the Baw Baw Shire matter, it’s not just about our two largest urban centres.

Regardless of where you are located within the East Ward you are important and that’s why I clock up over 20,000km per annum for the shire to ensure every corner of the ward is represented. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me during the campaign and throughout the my previous council term.

Your kind words, offers of assistance and ultimately your strong vote has made a difference which I will repay by continuing to deliver positive results for the East Ward as best I can.

I need to make special mention of my partner Russell who walked the streets with me, dropped off leaflets, did excellent photography and went over and above to help and encourage me throughout the election campaign.

Finally, I must thank Irene Broadbent of

Darnum. Her regular letters to the editor and negative commentary about me being a proactive councillor who is out and about and travels the shire extensively to gain positive outcomes for our small towns, rural and remote communities has done wonders to raise my profile within the community.

Clearly her views have been overwhelmingly rejected by the voters of East Ward so I will continue to travel the length and breadth of the East Ward to ensure all areas are represented and valued. Obviously, that is what people want.

I’m very much looking forward to the next four years on council and being of service to you no matter where you are. Once again, thank you for your support, it’s much appreciated.

Michael Leaney, Walhalla

Humbled by support

I would like to thank all my supporters who voted for me in the recent council elections, you are many and I was very humbled by the support I received.

It was a very close vote but unfortunately I just missed out. I congradulate everyone that has been elected to council, I hope that you listen to this community and deliver what you have promised them.

I have paid very close attention to some of the promises made, in particular the promise by Cr Danny Goss to "fix" the old Bonlac site.

I really hope for Warragul that Cr Goss achieves this goal, it would be of great economic benefit to the town and create hundreds of jobs in our community. I look forward to seeing the outcome.

Wayne Farnham. Warragul

Get state moving

As we begin to emerge from this second lockdown, we need a plan to get Victoria back on its feet.

The state government must demonstrate that it is willing to put politics aside and work with the parliament to get things moving again. The state opposition is putting forward many proposals, including subsidising trips to regional Victoria to boost tourism, upgrading our tourist attractions and freezing council rates.

The hospitality industry has been full of ideas to help get their sector going in a COVID-Safe way. People want to work with the Premier to get things moving. Andrews however is refusing to put politics aside and work for the good of Victorians, even going as far as claiming that anything the opposition calls for is “irrelevant”.

People need more from their Premier at a time of crisis than politics. Andrews need to wake up, this is not just all about him.

Josiah Gillam, Drouin

Entertainment

Isn't it good to know that in such dire times for our world, we can at least rely on the satire of Lynton Malley of Cloverlea for some entertainment and light relief (Gaz 3/11).

As Lynton, with no doubt tongue firmly in cheek, continues his campaign of railing against the world's fear, stupidity and mindboggling internet conspiracy theories, he does well to remind us all of the absolute nutters we must all endure.

The 100 per cent consensus of the world's medical scientists, plus 1.2 million Covid-19 world fatalities, and counting, is just ''fake news'' for those who really know ‘'the truth''.

As Lynton reminds us, with his trademark charm and wit, there are those who believe we would do well to be wary of those dreaded ‘leftards'’.

Keep up the great work, Lynton.

John Duck, Trafalgar