LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

INLAND RAIL

I WOULD just like to remind you of the interesting facts that were brought up at the inland rail meeting with the deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack on December 12 at the Southbrook Hall.

During the presentation given by Dr Rob Loch, who is one of the most experienced soil erosion scientists in Australia, and who has carried out an investigation into the soils of the chosen routes, and he stated that the proposed rail line “preferred route” positioning is fraught with problems to the farmers.

This is due to the 16 kilometres across the floodplain and the fact that the water is going to be channelled in some way between the solid sections or piers of the rail line and that overtime this will cause erosion and will only be exaggerated as time progresses and will cause wet areas and dry spots making what is now prime farmland deteriorate slowly but surely.

He also stated that the soil of the “preferred route” is not good for building such a line as it will shift and cause either the track or supports to fail. This may not be in the immediate future, but in time it will definitely fail because the soils, subsoils and the weather are not conducive to a heavy engineering project without a huge amount of groundworks and a failure is certain and expensive repairs or a rethink of the route will be required.

One of his final points that he stated was that the original “base case” for the train track was on much firmer ground for building the project as has been proven with the lack of failures of the present rail line and would be a much more stable option for a long lasting rail line which is why it was probably originally chosen.

I think these points that have been highlighted by someone with as much experience as Dr Rob Loch in the area of soil erosion, should be listened to and appreciated by the government and the engineers of the ARTC and they should take it as free advice for them to reconsider the position of the track before they make themselves

BIBLE THOUGHT

“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 AKJV) Jesus gave His life for us so that we could have eternal life. Thank you, Jesus. look very foolish and leave themselves open to litigation should the track fail as has been predicted by an expert and cause expensive repair bills and holdups to occur down the line.

I just don’t want to see the ARTC and local government to end up with egg on their faces after spending what will be hundreds of millions driving a track across soft shifting subsoils. PAUL CLAPHAM, Southbrook

SMALL HOPE

THE Sunday (6/1/19) newspaper gives little hope for anyone. Paedophilia and homosexuality were covered up in the churches for at least 80 years.

Recently churches have been financially broken as a result. Bad banking practices have yet to he rectified, and only a few were charged from the Fitzgerald Inquiry. Since then drug use has escalated to dynamic proportions.

The ATO and banks have used in- ternet assistance to overcharge and overtax people by accessing savings and bank statements. Our police have burned out due to management controls and limited personnel to relieve those stood down due to mental issues and PTSD. Disgraced Commissioner Terry Lewis suffered criticism, however, camaraderie was higher than at any other time.

There were enough police to do the work without being stressed out.

Now computers are squeezing more out of workers, taxpayers and borrowers. The happiest of all government workers are politicians who do less work and have big salaries. Politicians’ pay should be cut until they get their act together and do some meaningful work to fix the current problems.

JAY NAUSS, Glen Aplin

THINK BEFORE VOTING

WITH a federal election in 2019, we need to seriously consider if we really need, or are we going to accept the damage that a Labor Government, if elected, will do as per Bill Shorten’s promises. He recently gave his agenda that will affect all seniors on low income and that’s most pensioners, self-funded super funds, in fact all persons with super.

We are referring to his proposal to stop the refund of franking credits. This will, when implemented, cut the income of all those mentioned above. Franking credits are the refund of the tax already paid by a company, currently returned to those to whom it is owed.

It is proposed to be effective from July 1, 2019, so if it is implemented we’ll see our last refund. This will affect the retirement planning and lifestyle of most.

If enacted it will amount to a double tax on the money. The company has paid it and the would-be recipients will be denied what is legally theirs.

The current government has faults for sure, but is by far the better pick to run Australia for the next three years.

Think before we vote, as every vote will count or else cost us. Remember Qld.

RAY HARCH, Toowoomba