Don’t make alcohol the hero of the day
I'd like to acknowledge with great respect the Drouin Football Club, particularly Rocky Fraser.
After making my return to football in a couple of reserves games after a year off it was just nice to play sport again.
With people at the club obviously knowing my history with alcohol it meant a lot that when the mandatory post game slab of VB was placed on the ground for the team to enjoy, Rocky went and grabbed me a Gatorade two minutes later, with no fuss and just a wink of acknowledgement.
It was a subtle gesture, but meant so much. I believe it's high time that alcohol stops being the hero of the day within sporting clubs.
Without doubt some of these environments and cultures are helping create the next batch of problem drinkers, myself included. Absolutely enjoy a drink if that's what you're into, however we need to normalise the choice of people not to as well.
Ben Lucas, Drouin
Contentious issue
At the last council meeting a decision to be made by council on the planning application PLA 0249/20 was deferred to the next council meeting on June 8.
This is a planning application that outlines a possible future for the town of Rokeby; perhaps a once in a lifetime decision.
Within our shire, development continues to be a contentious issue.
The absolute essence of what our shire is going through at present, and into the suture, is reflected in this proposed development.
Land for urban development and land for rural retention.
It is a decision that may affect not just the township and the adjoining properties, but the broader community of ours as well.
Let us hope, that in time, with the benefit of hindsight, that the foresight already invested into the planning scheme will achieve an outcome in Rokeby that stands the test of time.
Chris Garden, Drouin West
Refuse permit
I am writing in response to the article published in last week's Gazette titled "more discussion needed for Rokeby development".
The current application sitting with the Baw Baw Shire does not deliver the best outcome for the township of Rokeby. Since the development was idealised and the land purchased, developers had many opportunities to essentially "sell" this proposal to the community and unfortunately for the vast majority, it has not satisfied any expectations indicated from the community.
This proposed development will inevitably change the beautiful township of Rokeby forever and it is our intention as a community and my intention to ensure that this is done right. In its current state the proposed application does not align with the current planning scheme of the Baw Baw Shire. This development will be the biggest change that has impacted our town since closure of the sawmill over 20 years ago.
The community deserves more time for all planning avenues to be explored and discussed. We need council to support town planning's recommendation to refuse this permit. There is no assurance of compliance to any issues that has been previously addressed with developers at various township meetings organised and held by volunteers within the community. Residents within the town are reluctant to agree to conditions affirmed with a 'handshake agreement'.
This development proposing a 20-lot subdivision in a rural community needs a more thorough approach in the preparation of any planning proposal. Careful consideration needs to be taken in order to make an everlasting positive impression to enrich the existing brand of Rokeby.
I believe we have an opportunity to advocate for a change on the process of rural land development throughout the entirety of the shire. We are advocating our right to participate in this process and stand proud in what we believe in to preserve the unique character of Rokeby. Baw Baw residents deserve to have their needs and expectations heard regarding rural land development throughout the shire.
Claire Stoll, Rokeby
Measly effort
How much more absent-minded could one possibly be than to think you could win an election on nothing? If Labor's strategy was small-target, just look at that measly effort those Liberals made. "Strong Economy. Stronger Future." How, exactly? What empty words. No vision, no plan, and no actual policy.
Anthony Albanese persuaded Australians that Labor could deliver what they've been thirsting for. Meanwhile, ScoMo and Co were sinking in their own mud. How did they think that they'd pander to the virtue-signallers of the inner-city while still appealing to their conservative, working-class base? That those Teals stole so many of those Liberal seats shows that the rich and highly 'educated' (indoctrinated) are a lost cause. The Nationals stuck to their base, refusing to be dragged to the left. Not one seat lost.
Scott Morrison's successor Peter Dutton said recently, "We are Liberals…We believe in families…small and micro-businesses…aspirational, hard-working 'forgotten people' across cities, suburbs, regions and in the bush." He knows his party lacks the vigour and inspiration it once had and must return to its base.
Stop slamming Dutton as 'unelectable' - the same thing was said about John Howard, yet look what he achieve.
Hopefully, Albanese won't be like Kevin Rudd. Remember how Rudd positioned himself as a 'fiscal conservative' but was actually the complete opposite? There are significant challenges ahead. Rising interest and inflation rates are set to raise the cost of living even more. Will it really not be easy under Albanese? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Eisak Tabensky, Drouin
No longer safe
There are lessons to be learned from the latest federal election that should serve notice at state and local level. Incumbency does not guarantee a win at an election, nor does belonging to one of the two major parties. Active choices for change were made in electorates where people didn't believe that their current representative was either actually representing them or delivering the goods. Congratulations to Russell Broadbent for winning in Monash. There is a message however delivered to him through the decline in his vote; Monash is no longer a safe Liberal seat.
The general public has found a voice and realise that the ballot box is a useful tool to vent their dissatisfaction to underperforming and out of touch politicians not fully serving their community on important issues for the community. With state elections due later this year, the biggest issue in our area is the construction of a well overdue new hospital. We have had promises and plans in the past, but no tangible move towards construction.
The Liberal Party has just announced that they will fund it should they win the next election. If the Liberals wish to retain the seat, then unless they win government, we will have to rely on strong advocacy and lobbying. If Labor wish to win the seat, then they need to do more than mouth words. They will need to match the Liberals' promise. If an independent wins that person needs to have a loud voice so Narracan is no longer marginalised and overlooked.
At local government level, every councillor needs to be aware of what the community need and want. Grand plans for legacies are all well and good, but service delivery is so important. Baw Baw Shire's population has grown markedly, yet the CBDs of Drouin and Warragul have not had changes made to cope with the influx. Road construction and maintenance to service the area has not kept pace either.
People who pay high rates expect and deserve high delivery of services. Many have moved to the area from suburban Melbourne for the ambience, only to find that because of planning they have just swapped one suburb for another, with less service provision. Councillors are the ones who determine expenditure of rates and grants. They oversee service delivery. As such they may get a message at the next elections.
It is important to recognise the difficulties that our representatives face. What they do is an onerous task. They need however to realise that the more that they distance themselves from the community and its needs, or do things contrary to the community's desires, the less support they will receive. People now know that they can hold people to account and it appears will be more iinclined to do that.
Greg Tuck, Warragul
Fantasy
With a new government now elected don't expect any more talk about cheap reliable renewable energy because this is a fantasy that can't be delivered. According to the global energy monitor, China has 1110 coal fired power plants, 92 in construction and 148 in planning. India has 285 coal fired power plants, 20 in construction and 22 in planning. America has 240 coal fired power plants.
Australia only has 19 coal fired power plants but we are going to lead the world to net zero plant food emissions. We have no plan on how this is to be done or how to deal with the disastrous environmental impact, just a zealous religious conviction that it has to be done.
We don't have any houses running totally on solar or wind energy, they all use C02 emitting gas, wood or coal fired power for cooking and heating. If you can't run your home on solar or wind, how on earth can you run your whole country on it?
Even if anthropogenic climate change was a genuine problem supported by empirical evidence (science), even if the beliefs of the mythical 97 per cent of scientists were right, and even if we switched to nuclear power, net zero plant food emissions would still be extremely difficult to achieve. With pseudo religious zealots and vested interests now dictating energy policy, instead of engineers and accountants, the reliability and affordability of energy in this country is in serious jeopardy.
Marc Schellekens, Drouin
Congratulations
I want to congratulate Yvette Brand for her story (Gaz 31/5) about the life of domestic abuse victim 'Kathy'.
Yvette was able to portray the fear and isolation experienced by 'Kathy' whilst drawing attention to the help available to those suffering domestic violence, often in silence. Thank you to the editorial team at the Gazette and to 'Kathy' for allowing Yvette to share 'Kathy's' harrowing story. Hopefully this has shown other sufferers that there is a light at the end of a dark and lonely tunnel.
Simone Bowers, Warragul
Yes they are serious
I'd like to give another perspective to a letter (Gaz 31/5) titled 'Baw Baw You Can't Be Serious.' It complains about the barbecue, rotunda etc at Kydd-Parke Reserve Jindivick being closed off for months, as part of a broad swipe at the council over things being closed.
I'd like to make two points. Firstly, the cricket ground at Jindivick has been a hive of construction since January, due to a significant upgrade. A large area of temporary fencing was installed to protect the worksite.
The barbecue, toilets etc were always accessible.. Council and the contractors went out of their way to position to position the fencing to allow access to the clubrooms and the barbecue area. (A local cycling club used the venue as a marshalling point as recently as two weekends ago.)
Secondly, the shire has been serious in its commitment to improving our wonderful community facility. They have been methodical, strategic and skilled in their approach. To get work done, $500,000 was raised from a combination of Shire, State Government and Cricket Victoria funding sources. This was after several years of lobbying and exhaustive consultation with the club.
The project is now in its final phases. It includes a comprehensive network of drainage and automated sprinklers, ground resurfacing, a 65 metre artesian bore and 250,000 litre water tank complete with CFA-approved fittings for water access during fires, replacement fencing for the playing area (and some boundary fencing) and a re-laying of the synthetic grass in the practice nets.
All of this will guarantee that this spectacular venue gets used all year round.
The good news is that the temporary fencing is scheduled to be coming down soon, although some grassed areas will need rehabilitation. We look forward to a reinvigorated facility and the return of cricketers and other public users in the near future. A little shortterm inconvenience will be worth it. It's regrettable that people have been inconvenienced, or there may have been some confusion about how to access the barbceue area, but I'm sure everyone will really enjoy the final product.
Mark Braddick, president Jindivick Cricket Club