Dear Editor,<\/p>\n
I was part of a group making a stand for refugees on a corner of the Surf Coast Highway this week.<\/p>\n
I feel it is a very depressing time in Australia\u2019s history at present. I cannot conceive how the country of the \u201cFair Go\u201d can incarcerate men, women and children, most of whom are genuine refugees, for periods of up to five years devoid of all hope.<\/p>\n
So this is why I put on a purple hat and mauve scarf (the colours of Grandmothers for Refugees) and on a cold evening joined the placard holding group.<\/p>\n
I had little expectation of any notice from the passing traffic but I wanted to be able to say to my grandchildren, who of course will be dealing with the aftermath of this, just like the Stolen Generation, that at least I tried.<\/p>\n
What an amazing surprise. The passing traffic responded to the sandwich board, \u201cToot for the refugees\u201d in such a wave of support. Toots and waves were in abundance. From despondence, I moved to hope. People do care. Politicians take note.<\/p>\n
Rosemary Faris<\/strong> Dear Editor,<\/p>\n There is no substitute to sensible and informed discussion. The perfunctory remarks made by Don Bartlett (\u201cNo place for fossil fuels\u201d, Letters, August 9) are typical of the ad hominem attacks made by the global warming panic merchants.<\/p>\n I would caution Mr Bartlett that he should be careful what he wishes for.<\/p>\n Because of the green energy push in California, power prices in that state can be up 50 per cent higher than other American states. California is also facing the prospect of looming blackouts and power shortages.<\/p>\n Renewable power is intermittent and is not suited for baseload power. Only fossil fuel power stations can provide affordable and reliable power 24\/7.<\/p>\n When Dr Alan Finkel was asked in a Senate enquiry into Australia\u2019s energy security, \u201cIf Australia were to reduce the world\u2019s emissions of CO2 by Australia\u2019s share (1.3 per cent), what impact would that make on the climate of the world?\u201d Dr Finkel replied, \u201cVirtually nothing\u201d.<\/p>\n There is no compelling reason to decarbonise the economy. We are not facing climate crises; we are facing an energy crisis. So why the rush to plunge Australia into darkness and chaos by squandering billions on intermittent renewable energy? It\u2019s neither a sane or sensible thing to do.<\/p>\n Alan Barron<\/strong> Dear Editor,<\/p>\n Recent reports about upper Barwon River and Boundary Creek pH levels raises serious questions about historical long-term over extraction of water from the Barwon River and groundwater recharge areas in its upper reaches.<\/p>\n The problem was forewarned in the 1980s by Barwon Water\u2019s own hydrological consultants but to no avail with annual extraction rates up to five times higher than what was recommended.<\/p>\n Some 40 years later and the problem has become a very big problem.<\/p>\n Poor water health, drawdown of groundwater, acid sulphate soils, farmland no longer productive and aquatic species decimated and it\u2019s the duplication of the Murray Darling mismanagement story all over again.<\/p>\n So, how can one abuse a renewable resource like water, add a few hundred thousand people to the region\u2019s population, throw in a three-degrees plus trajectory for climate change by as early as 2070, whittle down the planet\u2019s biodiversity so much and so fast that geologists now refer to the current epoch as the Anthropocene, and then tell everyone this is sustainable growth?<\/p>\n Find out more: SCEG AGM, Dinner and Presentation. 6.15pm Thursday August 16 (tonight) at Quiksilver Bar 61, Torquay.<\/p>\n Graeme Stockton<\/strong> Dear Editor,<\/p>\n In Australia we have more helicopters than most countries being used for tourism, mustering and spraying of crops also used for survey and search and rescue, yet the Surf Coast Shire wants to restrict heli flying from private farms in this area.<\/p>\n As a pilot of both fixed wing and helicopters for the last 30 years and flying mostly around the Surf Coast Shire, why are the councillors objecting to their ratepayers from being part of the flying community?<\/p>\n At present, the shire wants to go to VCAT to rescind members of the community from having helicopters, which will cost the shire ratepayers approx $40,000 and another $40,000 if they lose.<\/p>\n Can someone tell me why they want to go down this path as there are more than 30 aircraft and another 15 helicopters in this area.<\/p>\n
\nTorquay<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAd hominem attacks<\/h2>\n
\nGrovedale<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe acid\u2019s on groundwater extraction<\/h2>\n
\nTorquay<\/em><\/p>\n
\nChoppers for the chop<\/h2>\n