Shout from rooftop for hospital funding

It is time for residents of Gippsland and regional Victoria to stand up and say“enough is enough”; we want the same consideration as others in this great state.

I moved to Gippsland in 1982; with my wife and three young children, as a life change. At the time one factor in choosing the area was the hospital.

The West Gippsland Hospital was excellent and provided all of our needs. We also found the school system and community participation friendly and inviting unmatched by any thing we found in metropolitan Melbourne.

We still in many ways have a great region that attracts people and provides a relaxing and welcoming environment.

There are many issues confronting us today and one major one is to convince the powers in Melbourne of our needs and aspirations. We have for the last 20 years suffered at the hands of politicians that do not appreciate our situations and share our dreams (Melbourne/ Geelong/Ballarat/Bendigo centric politicians).

With an election at the end of the year we need to start yelling from the roof tops that we have the same issues as Melbourne.

Our hospital needs to be rebuilt to ensure its continued service to an ever growing community.

I am sick and tired of hearing that the proposal is being evaluated and is under consideration.

We need a stronger political will from all of our local politicians, for this great region to prosper. Michael Fozard, Trafalgar

This is not just about GetUp, it’s about the freedom of small organisations to lobby for important local and global issues.

I urge readers to do everything in your power to encourage Labor to block the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017.

Naomi Coleman, Inverloch services to be worth $231,000. Their reason being that it could be sold as a small lot for their fanciful higher value.

The fact that no building permit would ever be granted was immaterial. As the land was between the other two titles and all three together constituted a viable farming property was also of no relevance.

An objection to the valuation was lodged pointing out all these facts and the recent purchase price. The objection was returned to the same valuer responsible for the original valuation.

Three months later I received notice from the valuer in Collingwood that the objection was disallowed. No reason or explanation was given for the decision simply the statement “The rating valuations on the property were confirmed and are to remain as stated on your rates notice. We therefore enclose a notice of disallowance of the objection as required by the Valuation of Land Act 1960.

For the past 10 years I have been paying rates on this inflated value and have now been hit with a further 28 per cent increase because my 47 year old dairy has been discovered. (Gaz. 6/2)

Of course one has the ability to proceed to VCAT but with an $832 lodgement fee plus hearing fees and legal costs and no guarantee of success this becomes an expensive exercise

There is another avenue and I would urge all ratepayers hit with similar supplementary valuations to follow suit and lodge a complaint with the Victorian Ombudsman.

Last week I even heard of a derelict house with no water or electricity connected being the subject of a property valuation increase. Revenue services response “It has a roof so therefore it is habitable”.

These mean and tricky ways mentioned by Paul Strickland (Gaz 13/2), need to be challenged. Let’s hope we get a positive response from the Ombudsman.

Trevor Collins, Neerim Junction