Preserve Western Port from terminal effects
The announcement that the Victorian government and the Port of Hastings Corporation are pursuing an Environment Effects Statement (EES) (Investigations into wind terminal effects, The News, 18/6/24) is bound to fail, after the federal government has recently wisely decided that wind turbine industry would be environmentally damaging.
Damage from increased dredging, which would be required for new wharves into the bay to facilitate constant shipping, would be impossible to mitigate in the future. In particular, dredging requires the sea floor being gouged out then deposited onto surrounding land, changing channels and tidal flows, which would affect marine-life habitat (seagrass, etc), as well as natural mangroves and sand banks, which are home for migratory birds and other wildlife.
Importation of foreign pests and diseases on ship’s hulls would also be a serious threat to the ecology of the bay, decades into the future.
I agree with Save Westernport group president Jane Carnegie saying: “We have made it clear to the port that as they prepare their EES, we’ll be watching every step of the way…the bar will be very high”. I suggest that the bar is so high that their “second bite of the cherry” is impossible to reach. Preserve Westernport forever.
Richard Cumming, Bittern
Wind terminal welcome
Further investigations into a possible wind terminal facility is welcome news (Investigations into wind terminal effects, The News, 18/6/24). Despite what Peter Dutton says, Australia is moving towards a renewable future and this wind terminal, if environmentally sound, would be another significant piece in the solution. The alternative project to convert coal into hydrogen for export to Japan is environmentally unsound and is just an excuse for Japan to export its carbon dioxide pollution to Australia.
Ross Hudson, Mt Martha
Conservation is vital
Given that almost 60 per cent of the native vegetation that remains on the Peninsula is privately owned, it is excellent that landholders are working together to step up their conservation efforts (Ensuring survival of bushland species, The News, 20/6/24). There are 400 species of indigenous fauna and nearly 700 indigenous plant species that call the Peninsula home. All of us have a responsibility to conserve them by tackling invasive weeds, revegetating degenerated land and creating biolinks.
The personal benefits of being outdoors with others helping to protect the natural world are immense. The general public can bolster landowners’ conservation efforts by connecting with one of the 60 “friends of” groups around the Peninsula, thereby supporting nature to thrive.
Amy Hiller, Kew
Canopy conundrum
In response to the article helping Mornington Peninsula Shire Council maintain the tree canopy it seems that they have two agenda’s that contradict each other. We requested that a borer infested dead tree be removed on the nature strip at the front of our property. After waiting two and a half months and several phone calls the tree was reduced to the main trunk with six other branches devoid of any foilage left at a height of six metres. The answer for this was habitat. There are tree’s either side of it and on nearly every other nature strip in the street, plus a national park fifty metres away. Where is the canopy? Plant a new tree and maintain the cover as their draft suggests.
Ken Oakley, Dromana
Power problems
Coal – no way, it’s evil. Gas – no way, it’s evil. Wind turbines – yes, acceptable, but not in my backyard, thanks. Solar panel farms – yes, acceptable, but again, not in my backyard. Nuclear – wash your mouth out!
Wonder if opinions will change when Victoria starts having the inevitable rolling blackouts?
Denis Mason, Sorrento
Keep Publishing
I believe that your weekly community newspaper is valued by our community. I recently returned from six weeks holiday and noticed that there were no newspapers in the stands. I was worried that the paper had ceased publication. How happy was I this morning. Noticing that every person who came out from the Richie’s hub had the latest paper in their hand. I find that the paper gives current and local news on happenings and events occurring in our local area. Advertisement by local trade, tradesmen and local stores. Helps us to use local. And the Sudoku puzzles are a must.
Marita Gibson, Dromana
Boardwalk protection
I wish to raise an issue regarding the maintenance of the Frankston boardwalk timber support posts. I love the boardwalk and have noticed the boardwalk timber support posts starting to deteriorate. The top of these posts are starting to rot and need protecting from the ingress of rain which is causing this rot.
I would strongly suggest that a protective cap (perhaps a square piece of galvanised iron screw fixed to the top of the posts) be installed. This could be done at the same time as the boardwalk lighting planned for June to August this year.
If no action is taken then the posts will rot quickly, needing replacing which would be a very expensive exercise as the posts are installed into a poured concrete footing and are drilled with holes for the horizontal ballustrade wires.
Hopefully action is taken by Frankston City Council as a matter of urgency as we all hope that this beautiful boardwalk is able to be enjoyed by all well into the future.
Philip Smith, Sandhurst
Both sides at fault
The Liberal Party of Australia has lost the plot if they think that nuclear energy will reduce household bills.
Peter Dutton is using nuclear reactors as a ‘trojan horse’ to promote gas-fired power stations to generate electricity around Australia rather than renewable energy projects.
The Labor Party has released its ‘Future Gas Strategy’ to ‘… support our economy’s transition to net zero…’ – however this strategy is worse than the Liberal’s ‘Gas-Fired Recovery’ from 2020.
Both Labor and Liberal parties have failed to stop the influence of fossil fuel donors over our elected representatives and have supported new coal, oil and gas projects beyond 2030.
If the Labor and Liberal parties cared about Australian families, they would have established a domestic gas reservation scheme to keep 20% of all gas for households and businesses before exports were sent to Japan, China and other countries at bargain prices.
Since 2014, gas exports should have attracted billions of dollars in royalties and taxes to fund hospitals, housing and the transition to renewable energy in Australia with lower household bills and lower carbon emissions at home – instead billions have gone overseas to international corporations.
Using carbon capture and storage to ‘offset’ carbon emissions from fossil fuel projects beneath the Australian seabed is another taxpayer-funded fantasy that will facilitate the continued extraction and production of oil and gas for decades with rising energy bills and emissions.
Our elected representatives have not been honest with the Australian people about how our valuable resources have been given away cheaply overseas, how resource royalties and taxes have been mismanaged or how inflation and cost-of-living pressures are directly linked to high gas prices to maximise profits for fossil fuel donors.
The only way to change the behaviour and decision-making of Labor and Liberal politicians is to vote against them.
Dale Stohr, Crib Point
Fix crime at the coalface
The youth crime crisis in Melbourne including Frankston and Mornington Peninsula has escalated and the Allan government is still continuing with it’s social reform of the youth bail and justice laws which the Victoria police oppose.
Frankston Council Youth Services and the Frankston police can do something constructive by visiting schools and educating students that crime does not pay and that a life of crimes leads to a life of in imprisonment. Also they can educate students about how to use social media responsibly. There needs to be “at the face” approach to help solve youth crime and give out information about state, federal and council programs for youth services.
Russell Morse, Karingal
Urgent housing crisis
\Mornington Peninsula Shire says it is “looking for innovative ways to tackle the growing housing crisis that is devastating families and individuals in our community”. Community consultation on their draft Affordable Housing Development Contributions Scheme closed on 7 of June. At the recent Seawinds Ward Community meeting it was reported that the survey feedback is being reviewed and a report will be developed by November 2024.
Why this lack of urgency on such a critical issue?
This timeframe will push the discussion on the issue out past the elections, when the Council is in caretaker mode, and as a result it will be left up to the new Council to take action on such an urgent issue.
Rebecca Cridland, Tootgarook
Roadways let us down
After leaving Rosebud and heading towards the turnoff to Mornington, there is always a lot of rubbish on the sides of the road. Some of it has been there for longer than expected. It’s frustrating that it’s not being cleaned up. It’s an eyesore and a problem for those visiting our beautiful holiday destination. People just visiting can leave, but we live here by choice.
Besides cleaning up the highways, let’s fix the many potholes. A programme is in place for these pothole works; it all takes time. However, could something please be done to alleviate the ‘wave effect’ on the park side of the road in Rosebud, passing BFC? There is no way of avoiding this as some other blips on the road, i.e. utility lids, can be.
Now, should I begin on the overzealous placement of roundabouts and speed humps along Field St and Government Road, with Bumble St included for whatever reason? Some roundabouts are excessively large for the corners. It wouldn’t be surprising if they end up damaged. If this is an attempt to slow down holidaymakers, get ready for the frustration of these visitors who bring in much-needed money during the summer months.
We live in a beautiful part of Victoria, but the roadways let us down.
Anne Kruger, Rye
