Native trees versus development
I was very disappointed to see every native ripped out of a one acre lot in Norman Rd, Drouin.
Those native trees and shrubs were thoughtfully placed around the boundary so that housing could be developed inside the acre.
I have no problem with removing the cypresses. The neighbours will definitely be happy when the cypresses are finally removed. However, the senseless destruction of the natives was not necessary.
The Ficifolia trees were about 18 years old and bloomed beautifully each year. Many times out of season as well.
Why is it that developers can come in and remove these native landscapes? They can get rid of the trees, and cop the fine.
Where is the shire? What are they doing, or should I say, not doing?
There are so many restrictions, permits and fines for the locals, but when it comes to the crunch, the shire don’t seem to have a concern for the local environment at all when it comes to the developers. One rule for the locals and one rule for the developers.
Julie Gillam, Drouin
Tired of lip service
The widely varied views and opinions in the letters to the editor in the Gazette illustrates how passionate people are about various topics and usually make for interesting reading.
So often pleas to councillors fall on deaf ears. No wonder many of us have dwindling faith in councils and governments to make decisions in favour of the good for our community/area/planet.
One example is the plight to save any natural beauty that’s left here after all the development.
If beauty for it’s own sake is not enough reason to make protection of our trees a priority, there’s a host of other benefits - all well and truly known by now.
Surely it is time to preserve every last remaining tree and green space before it’s gone forever.
How hard can it be for roads to be designed to curve around trees (especially old ones) occasionally? A curve in a road or footpath isn’t rocket science, it has been done before.
In fact it would add interest and character rather than the boring straight uniform plans repeated everywhere these days.
A few curves would also slow traffic a bit win/win.
Councillors give lip service to our concerns but either can’t or won’t do anything. It feels futile to speak up but thankfully there are more and more voices trying at least to make some difference to the health of our community.
More scrutiny and freedom of information might reveal how functional our system of communication with council actually is. If nothing more than a misleading illusion, quit the pretence. Knowing that much would save us a lot time.
Jill Harris, Drouin
Only one chance
I worry about the climate change deniers with their easy going, “She’ll be right, mate.”
“No climate crisis exists,” claims Lynton Malley for example.
There is no room for denialism as scientists around the world agree that things are changing. If you just consider how the world has changed in the last 600 years you would find it very hard to rationally argue that there is no climate change or even, that it is not human induced.
Why 600 years ago? Simply because that is when the world’s population was one billion people. People lived in huts or houses made out of wattle and daub mud with thatched roofs or similar. They ate what they could grow or gather. The made their own single set of clothing.
If they travelled, it was on foot or by donkey to church or the market. Sailing ships might make a short sustainable voyage. A cathedral or castle would be built out of stone, timber with leadlight, glass and perhaps lead roofing.
People lived in villages or small cities and simply trod lightly on the planet. Mexico City might have been the biggest city in the world just cracking a million. There were parts unexplored, sparsely populated and vast forests, mountains, plains and deserts over the oceans. The Earth could cope.
In contrast, today we have mega cities of maybe 10, 20 or more million on every populated continent. Two countries have more people than the whole world 600 years ago. Not many live in rural areas doing subsistence farming.
Today, the middle class can buy things from all over the world as we have the income. We have big houses, big wardrobes, big freezers, cars, computers, fashion, mass media. We have weekends, hobbies and holidays and travel by plane, train and cruise ship for pleasure.
We have service industries like hairdressing, teaching swimming, financial advisors and cosmetic surgeons - all jobs that never previously existed.
We have nuclear, oil, plastics and chemicals. We have industrial pollution and massive rubbish disposal from single use items. We have extinctions of insects, bees and birds etc. due to
land clearing, land use and urbanisation. Polar bears have less ice to hunt on and will indeed be under pressure from climate change.
The pressure on the planet is increasing from population growth especially of middle classes in most countries.
Now there are incredible and regular storms, fires, floods, droughts.
Pandemic threatens us. Glaciers are melting. Long dead mammoths are being found as Siberia warms. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing and yet Lynton Malley tells us not to be fussed. We have eight billion on the planet which we have never had before.
Lynton, what if you are wrong? You are taking a chance with the lives of eight thousand million people. It would be nonsensical to not even try to save ourselves. We have one planet and only one chance.
David Baylis, Drouin East
Quality venue
Well being or wellbeing? One word or two, is a hyphen relevant?
Whatever, the term refers to the state of being or doing well - a happy, healthy, or prosperous condition; the moral or physical welfare of a person or community. Yes it is important. Its absence is linked to crime rates, domestic violence, suicides and hospital attendances.
Wesley of Warragul, our volunteer run, fine music venue has done it yet again.
It looks after district well being.
Wesley has delivered a rich program for 2023. No concert better to hear than the Invictus Quartet of four young string players who performed on Sunday. The venue was almost full, so justified by the quality of the music and the enthusiasm of both the musicians and the audience. Thank you to all.
With there being many pressures, worries and conflicts, physical as well as political upon us, the value of such positive, diversionary experiences is obvious.
Some government grant funding helps Wesley. Even better, the growing audience numbers promote to the growing district such enjoyable well being experiences as Wesley offers.
And no, I am not on the committee nor a beneficiary in any way bar that of being better off for these memorable events.
Mary Hughes, Neerim
Message in flags?
During my recent travels throughout Gippsland and lower New South Wales, I have noticed an increasing number of Australian flags being flown on private properties. Could this be a message to the prime minister that his push for a republic and the Voice is a step to far.
D.Morris. Warragul