Letters To The Editor - April 26, 2018

Being clear headed

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to Maurice Cole’s comments regarding the Surf Coast Shire (“The impact of no impact study”, Letters, April 19).

While recognising that the issues raised are very important and that as a community we should be informed, I believe we also need to be clear headed and keep our personal agendas to a minimum.

The personal attack on Libby Coker’s integrity is both unwarranted and inaccurate.

I attended several of the “swimming pool” public meetings and was impressed with the willingness of the staff of the Surf Coast and its councillors to engage despite ill-tempered and unfair criticism directed towards them.

I am confident that everybody in the shire would welcome a pool, however, the associated costs appeared to be the stumbling block and not a philosophical objection to swimming pools.

To suggest that by not supporting the pool for budgetary reason is inconsistent with a water safety program is illogical.

I am sure that Maurice is aware that surf awareness and all that entails does not rely on the existence of a local pool.

If we are to have a pool in the future, maybe we could call on those who have benefitted considerably from the surf industry to provide such a facility to the people of the Surf Coast.

Greg Wilson
Jan Juc

Councillors for what?

Dear Editor,

For many years the Surf Coast council has been seen as an ideal starting point for some Councillors, to further their political ambitions.

They feel that newspaper coverage of local events can put them in line for pre-selection for election to one of the two parliaments.

Some have succeeded while others haven’t.

This has not always been to the advantage of Surf Coast ratepayers.

Mayor David Bell appears to have been caught up in this scenario. David is a true Surf Coast visionary and to my knowledge, has no ambitions to be more than that.

His work in Torquay with the Farmers’ Market and the movement against Spring Creek development speaks for itself.

Surf Coast council, with competing ward interests, should always be a volatile place, as councillors put the interests of their ratepayers first.

This entails a good deal of negotiation skills, which are sadly missing from some councillors, who need to examine what they are in the job for.

Spencer Leighton
Torquay

The Anzac spirit

Dear Editor,

Where can young people find their place in the Anzac tradition?

While it may be harder for young people to relate to the individual experience of the veterans and to know their names and battles they fought, every Australian can embody the qualities of the Anzac spirit.

Courage, loyalty, compassion, mateship, endurance – the Anzac spirit is something that lives on long after the battles are fought.

Whether it is helping communities after a natural disaster, supporting people at risk of homelessness, or providing a hand up to those affected by a family tragedy – every Australian, young or old, can uphold the spirit of the Anzacs.

So let us honour our soldiers in the best way possible by remembering the sacrifices they’ve made and embodying the Anzac spirit in everything that we do.

Let us be a voice for those suffering injustice or hardship. And let us transform Australia one life at a time, giving hope where it’s needed most.

Lieutenant Colonel Neil Venables
Secretary of Communications, The Salvation Army

An accident waiting to happen

Dear Editor,

It is difficult to comprehend Surf Coast council’s attitude to road safety.

A particular example is highlighted by the recent placing of a 50-kilometre speed limit on Messmate Road between Grossmans Road and Coombes Road, Torquay. That section of road services eight properties.

Further to the west, Ghazepoore Road, which also joins Grossmans and Coombes roads, has a an 80-kilometre limit and the road services 120 villas in Kithbrooke Park retirement village.

Kithbrooke is a gated community and the main gate entry and exit is on Ghazepoore Road. Being a retirement village the reaction time of resident drivers is not as fast as those of a younger neighbourhood and the road is used by up to 60 large heavy double trailered vehicles per day, which would have great difficulty in avoiding a slower car from the village in an emergency.

Despite many representations from Kithbrooke residents and management, council refuses to consider lowering the speed limit. The situation is an accident waiting to happen, and that sad event may be the only way Council will wake up to need for action.

David Schneeberger
Chairman, Kithbrooke Residents Committee

Not another review

Dear Editor,

After five damning NBN reports in 12 months, the Turnbull Government has taken the unprecedented action of – wait for it – swiftly ordering another review.

This week, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) revealed consumer complaints about the NBN have gone through the roof.

The TIO revealed a massive 204 per cent increase in NBN complaints and a 30 per cent increase in complaints across Victoria.

Predictably the Government, NBN Co and the phone companies are saying the blame lies with someone else. Doesn’t that sound familiar?

All the reports from the ACCC, ACMA, Parliament’s Joint Select Committee and the TIO point to the same problems:

The initial installation goes wrong on too many occasions (one in three according to the ACMA)

The old copper network, and much of the HFC network, is not up to scratch – a fact, even NBN Co admits

Customers are bounced between service providers and the NBN with no one taking responsibility.

I’m sorry Mr Turnbull but it’s not another review we need; it’s swift action. It’s time to ditch the unreliable copper, legislate for strong consumer rights and put a tough cop on the beat to help consumers who are sick of being caught in your game of NBN ping-pong.

Stephen Jones MP
Shadow Minister for Regional Communications