Regain ratepayers’ respect

After attending a wedding at the magnificent venue that is now the West Gippsland Arts Centre, it fast became a favourite.

Value for money meals that never fail to meet the same refined standards that Dave sets. A great meal always delivered.

Hence turning the arts centre from the drab and dreary coffee spot, to the newly renovated, unmatched, pinnacle of fine dining and entertainment.

Begrudged that the recent renovations carried out by council soared past the budget, Dave's brilliant food was able to leave a better taste in my mouth than the poor mismanagement that is the shire.

Hence, politics aside, as they say, "that's the way the cookie crumbles."

So, as you can imagine I was met with shock and sadness to hear that Albert and Smith would be no more.

Perhaps, a man possessing such nouse for being able to establish a restaurant with that sizeable reputation in such a short space of time, had he moved onto a bigger and better opportunity city-side, potentially a dream of his? Of course not.

In typical fashion, the council known for its brilliant plans and better execution (sarcasm) had failed to achieve mediation with Albert and Smith, enraging the public once again.

So, I implore the council with all the hope in my heart to rectify this error and regain some of the common ratepayer's respect.

Connor O'Dea, Warragul

Keep shouting

Who is failing to protect our trees?

Glenys Marriot I hear you (Gaz 19/7). A few trees "taken out' here and there may not seem like much but at the current rate of tree loss every tree is precious. No longer can we pretend it is unimportant - the facts are damning according to the recent Australian Conservation Foundation (July 22). If we ignore this five year report just released on the state of the environment and not worry about the shocking decline on every front then we are choosing to be part of the problem.

You may be one lone voice but keep shouting, make as much noise as you can. Many of us care. Now is the time for accountability and rectification for years of wilful damage. There's no excuse for inaction and ignorance. Concluding this degradation "harms human wellbeing" is stating the bleeding obvious and we are way past this. Give Friends of Drouin Trees final say in these developments - that could only result in a better place to live for all creatures great and small.

Jill Harris, Drouin West

Inaccuracies

I am writing to respond to last week's letter regarding retaining walls at Waterford Rise in Warragul by Ms Brady and Mr Adams and the front page article entitled "Subdivision all clear".

There are a number of inaccuracies that bear correction and a few important points that I would like to make in both cases.

Firstly, the letter to the editor makes claims that issues around the height of retaining walls which caused delays in the progress of Stage 65 to 67 at Waterford Rise, Warragul were due to a transgression 'invented by one or maybe several persons in the employ of council.' Retaining wall height requirements are not new, nor are they arbitrarily decided by council or council officers.

They have been part of the planning scheme for many years. The Warragul Precinct Structure Plan which contains the retaining wall height requirement was introduced in 2014.

Secondly, in the case in question, the developer had proceeded to carry out works ahead of the required planning approvals.

When this happens the result may be that changes are necessary to comply with design requirements which means physically changing already constructed assets rather than simply moving lines on a plan.

Unfortunately this can be after presales of lots have already been entered into. The decision to commence and later suspend works on this particular development, and then take the matter to VCAT, was a business decision of the developer.

Thirdly, the letter states that 'council lost' at VCAT. This is simply untrue. Council did not lose at VCAT.

The matter was settled by consent between council and the developer on the basis that the developer prepared an amended design reducing the height of the retaining walls.

It is important to keep in mind that planning controls exist for good reason. In this case council was particularly concerned about a proposed retaining wall in a public park that was around three metres in height for reasons of public safety and community amenity.

Finally, with regards to the front page article, it should be that noted once again it was the developer who took that matter to VCAT after council issued a permit.

This development had a very large number of objectors and with the permit being issued, it would be remiss of council to not ensure that the permit conditions were met and detail provided. Council has a duty to ensure the best overall outcome for the community.

As stated, many of the issues were resolved by mediation, however it is anyone's right to go to VCAT where either party can use legal representation or internal resources.

In this example, the shire determined to utilise one of our highly qualified planners supported by our lawyers and this resulted a considerable cost saving for ratepayers.

I understand that delays are frustrating when someone is awaiting a home to be built. However, planning is all about striking a careful balance.

Not all decisions are easy or popular. I sympathise with people who may be frustrated over delays but it should be kept in mind that sometimes delays pre construction are far less damaging when compared to encountering serious issues of noncompliance that may pose for public safety risk or loss of community amenity down the track.

Cr Michael Leaney - Mayor

Can the environment win?

The federal government has just released the state of the environment report - a five-yearly report by scientists - which shockingly revealed the sharp deterioration of Australian ecosystems that has been caused by climate change and other human activities, especially those involving habitat destruction in order to facilitate forestry, mining and agriculture.

Earlier this month the federal government raised the threat level for the greater glider (a critter which is found in the Noojee State Forest) from vulnerable to endangered. It is well established that native logging, with its associated destruction of glider habitat, is a major threat to the survival of this species.

The glider's survival depends on stopping native logging. But unfortunately, as the law stands, that relies on state government action. However, Dan Andrews' power rests heavily on maintaining the ongoing support of the CFMEU which has around a 1000 members employed at the Maryvale mill in the Latrobe

Valley where the trees are turned into paper. Can the environment ever win when competing against politics and power?

David Clarke, Noojee

Music therapists

The Warragul Arthritis Self Help Support group was fortunate to have Adie Perry do a presentation recently on her role as a music therapist.

There are only 500 music therapists in Australia and Adie is the only therapist in the whole Gippsland region. More are badly needed to carry out this important role.

Music therapists support people with physical, emotional, social, behavioural, anxiety, depression, dementia, and communication problems.

Maree Wallace, Warragul