Road madness with untenable conditions
I’ve just driven my car from Mornington to Red Hill South, a journey involving avoiding a number of deep and dangerous potholes. Then, on Arthur’s Seat Road, I was stopped by a work crew installing an enormous length of road safety barriers on the border of a picturesque winery and the focus centre. Why? Have there been instances of cars running off this road? The speed limit has just been reduced to 60kph. Do we not wait to see the effect of this before spending massive amounts of money on a potentially unnecessary structure which just happens to obscure one of the great vistas this village offered. On what data is the need for this barrier based?
I’m sure this work cost many thousands of dollars yet 200 metres before this, at the major intersection of White Hill Road and Arthurs Seat Road, is an enormous pothole that has been there for about two weeks with only a confusing safety bollard sitting in it. Priorities? The potholes in roads along Safety Beach and in and around Red Hill are a genuine and real danger to cars but especially to the many cyclists who ride these roads. Will it take a cyclist fatality for this aspect of road management to be improved?
The trio I was riding with on Wednesday morning had to swerve to such a crater on on Marine Drive, Safety Beach, just as a passenger bus passed us. Thanks to the bus driver driver there was room for our avoidance manoeuvre, but both of us should be able to ride and drive in a straight line along a straight road.
Tony Briglia, Red Hill South
Welfare not nuclear
Does Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie really believe that the solution to climate change is “… nuclear supplemented by gas…” (Liberals push for ‘nuclear debate’ The News 17/7/24)? I think she needs to stop reading the briefing notes handed to her by the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton – written by his fossil fuel/mining mates.
The environmental, financial and social risks of nuclear energy as well as long planning and construction timelines are unacceptable compared to the positive benefits of renewable energy on cost, safety, faster roll-out and no radioactive waste.
Expanding gas exploration and production in Australia will not help struggling families with their gas bills when the gas is exported and sold cheaply to Japan and China. The Labor Party is also complicit on this issue and failing to stop price gouging by energy companies.
The majority of residents on the Mornington Peninsula would not support a new nuclear reactor in Victoria – so why does Zoe continue to waste time on this issue?
The website They Vote for You shows how Zoe has voted in Canberra since May 2022 – Zoe has formally voted 133 times and voted the same way as Peter Dutton 100 per cent of the time. According to the website, Zoe has consistently voted against capping gas prices, federal action on public housing, increasing housing affordability, net zero emissions by 2035 or 2050, the Paris Climate Agreement and others.
Our politicians need to stop repeating falsehoods on distracting non-issues like nuclear energy and start providing real solutions to long term problems that will improve the welfare of all citizens.
Dale Stohr, Crib Point
Homeless concerns
As a member of Southern Women’s Action Network (SWAN), I join with many other organisations and individuals in acknowledging Homelessness Week. However, we cannot just show concern for one week. Along with others, SWAN is actively advocating for more housing via new builds and urgent repairs to the limited social and public housing on the Mornington Peninsula. We need more crisis housing, more support services, more funding for current essential services, and more thinking outside of the box – by all parties within and outside of our community. We will continue to pursue these issues until there is real change, when no women and children are sleeping rough on the foreshore, and when every woman fleeing family violence has safe and secure accommodation.
SWAN has managed to secure an upcoming meeting with the Housing Minister Harriet Shing. We will be calling for real and concrete action, including, as a matter of urgency, for a replacement for the only existing local transitional housing option, The Ranch, which is facing imminent closure.
We don’t want to be told yet again, how many properties we have, we know. We don’t want to be just told that more houses are being built. Tell us when. Give us start and finish dates. Tell us where they are going to be, what they will be, and make them beautiful, sustainable, and well supported. Action speaks louder than words.
Susan Blackburn, SWAN
Housing crisis
Is the Mornington Peninsula to be overlooked once again when it comes to the provision of low-cost public rental housing? Despite the hard evidence of now close to 4000 on the waiting list, in the last 10 years the responsible authority, Homes Victoria, has provided only 136 dwellings on the peninsula. An average of 13.6 homes a year.
No wonder the peninsula is experiencing a housing crisis.
People are sleeping rough in freezing temperatures, women and children experiencing violence are trapped, and the “working poor” can’t afford the rent. We hear about the Big Build and state and federal funding boosts to address homelessness, but will this help any more people on the peninsula get an actual roof over their head?
Maureen Donelly, Mornington
Prone to remember
Paris 2024, the city of light, the city of love. The fascination of pride, the parents, the swimming results. Pride never part of my DNA, concern for their wellbeing, their future, yes, but pride?
On the assumption all emotions are within, did a memory search, came up with three strains. The youngest at Central Park East Malvern, school sports, long distance running race, leading by a mile half way through lap one, finished last, no matter. The second a school play, Oliver, same feeling, stood up, stage front, delivering her lines. The third, rehearsing a play in Carlton, a note on my car window, he’d been doing an important exam, told how he’s nailed it, stuck it up them. Pride eh, who’d have thought?
Cliff Ellen, Rye
The Ninch?
Why do I hear people refering to the Mornington Peninsula as ‘The Ninch’ these days? I imagine it is long-term residents who came here to live during covid who have adopted the awful phrase. For the over 70 years I’ve been living here, the peninsula or the Mornington Peninsula seemed to work just fine.
When I hear someone say how much they ‘love The Ninch’, I feel like they have finally learned to live with the long term sexually transmitted disease they contracted in the eighties, that no amount of penicillin could dislodge.
C. Jenkins. Tyabb
Positive planting
How beautiful yet heartbreaking that Shoreham Beach is hosting Nature Obituary (Performance eulogises ‘our environment lost’ The News 30/7/24).
The natural world certainly needs honouring, now more than ever. But grieving nature seems a pessimistic stance.
My hope is that this occasion, like the recent National Tree Day planting events that were held across the Mornington Peninsula, will reinvigorate community members to reconnect with the environment. And, subsequently, empower us to advocate for and work toward a regenerative and sustainable future for all.
Amy Hiller, Kew
Destroying democracy
The Labor, Liberal, National and Greens parties have began to destroy democracy in Victoria. The Labor, Liberal, National and Green parties have passed legislation that if parties do not have 500 members then the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) can deregister the party.
The Democratic Labour, Family First, Health Australia, Angry Victorians, Restore Democracy and Sack Daniel Andrews parties were deregistered by the VEC in its review of the parties. Other parties who voluntary deregistered because they could not navigate the deregistration review are the Reason Party, United Australia Party and the Transport Matters Party with the Sustainable Party next to be reviewed and calling out for members.
The federal Liberal, National, Labor and Greens parties are going to bring in legislation to remove minor parties and independents and in the end will create a two party system as in the United States.
The big parties benefit from the taxpayers with political funding and are in charge of making legislation which can block minor parties and independents to create the two party system.
In Victoria, the state government and in local government we have four-year fixed term elections as the United States does and this weakens opposition to corrupt governments, as we have in Victoria. This comes at a time when Australians are voting for minor parties as they reject the major parties who are not focusing on their day to day problems, such as the cost of living and the housing crisis.
Democracy is on the line and also our electoral system is becoming more aligned with the United States system of government.
Russell Morse, Karingal
Letter to the Editor #2
I imagine you think you’re funny printing the email I sent you (Letter to the Editor, Letters 23/7/24). It was not, in fact, a “Letter to the Editor”, as it was never intended to be published. A reputable newspaper would realise that.
Liz Sarkie, Hampton East
Well played
I had the privilege to attend this year’s Dreamhouse youth ensemble performance of ‘The Chapel, The Fire And The Dead Cat’ by young Melbourne playwright Madelaine Nunn. I was excited to see so many wonderful young actors perform. Bravo! I was also impressed by the creativeness of the set design – truly magnificent. My congratulations to everyone involved. I will be in the audience again next year.
Sarah Russell, Mount Martha
