Letters To The Editor - April 5, 2018

Rare hoodies

Dear Editor,

We write to respond to the letter “More hoodies might have flown” by Paul Malone on March 29.

As mentioned in the letter, three hooded plover pairs between Point Lonsdale and Ocean Grove clubhouse have certainly had a couple of good months where two of their chicks have fledged and a third is due to fledge soon.

This success has largely been due to the tireless efforts of volunteers of Friends of Hooded Plover who erect fences and signs educating beachgoers about hoodies, as part of BirdLife Australia’s Beach-nesting Birds project.

Most importantly, these are the only fledged chicks out of 16 known nesting attempts by six pairs of hooded plovers between Point Lonsdale and Ocean Grove.

As a project focused on protecting a threatened species of bird that is highly sedentary, we have a good understanding of hoodie population numbers thanks to the census we conduct every two years and information we collect through banding of birds.

Hoodies in the west are a different subspecies to the hoodies in the east (South Australia, Victoria, etc.), and the eastern subspecies is in decline because they predominantly nest on beaches and hence, face a lot of threats especially during the breeding season.

Contrary to the claim made in the letter, we can confidently say (based on data) that they are a rare species and have disappeared from some beaches where they have been found before.

They may be commonly sighted in your local beach, but it is important that we look at the overall numbers and distribution to get a better understanding of their status as a species.

The Beach-nesting Birds Project
BirdLife Australia

Time for Riordan to back-pedal

Dear Editor,

It is wrong of Richard Riordan to mock those campaigning to save Anglesea Bike Park, in an effort to garner support from rural constituents (“Riordan urges shire to move on from bike park”, Surf Coast Times, March 22).

Over 5,500 people recently signed a petition in support of the Bike Park – many of whom live in the Polwarth electorate, including rural areas; 34 pages of heartfelt written comments were submitted. Surf Coast Shire council is right to consider the issue carefully, considering that level of community support.

The bike park only needs saving because Alcoa and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning propose 13 hectares of new housing on the land where the Bike Park sits, despite the land being outside Anglesea’s town boundary and not zoned for housing and despite DELWP’s own consultation showing that only 2.3 per cent of people support new residential development.

Given the Bike Park occupies only one hectare of the 13, it would be unreasonable not to consider options for retaining it.

The bike park is managed and maintained by volunteers.

If it’s bulldozed, thousands of hours of volunteer labour will be wasted.

A million-dollar asset will be wasted and another million spent replacing it; $2 million to replace something that already exists is a gross waste of money. Again, it’s worth considering options for avoiding that waste.

When Mr Riordan claims that “the focus is not on what has traditionally kept our…local communities alive”, he ignores the contribution made by bike park volunteers and the 34 per cent of Anglesea people who regularly engage in volunteer work (the state average is 19 per cent).

He ignores the $15 million-per-year Anglesea camps and outdoors economy that is supported by facilities like the bike park, and he belittles the effort people are putting into conserving Anglesea’s unique character at a pivotal time in the town’s history.

Mike Bodsworth
Anglesea Bike Park Committee of Management

Riordan should meet with Anglesea community

Dear Editor,

I was disappointed by the contents of a recent article, “Riordan urges shire to move on from bike park”, (Surf Coast Times, March 22), revealing Mr Riordan’s opinion that the Surf Coast Shire is consuming more time and resources on protecting a bike park than on improving local roads.

His comments indicate that he is more than a little out of touch with what’s happening in this part of his electorate.

While the future of the bike park is a great concern to many, it is one of a number of concerns for residents and visitors to Anglesea, regarding the future of the land being vacated by Alcoa.

I was also confused by his suggestion that the “traditional, rural farming community” is “suffering” due to council focus on the “new people that have moved into the area that have a different priority set”.

I sympathise with rural community concerns around road quality and fail to see how anyone will benefit from such divisive statements from Mr Riordan.

The state government’s proposed Draft Land Use Plan and any decisions that are ultimately made will have lasting implications for the Anglesea community and the nature of its unique coastal setting.

The plans will impact the vibrant tourism industry, busy business precinct and surrounding bushland well into the future.

I hope that the dismissive tone of his statements don’t genuinely represent Mr Riordan’s attitude and invite him to meet with community members to discuss their concerns, hopes and desires for the region.

Emma Fenty
Save Anglesea

New home for Torquay Food Aid

Dear Editor,

Over the years, Torquay Food Aid has received wonderful support from the community of Torquay, and we are extremely grateful.

At Christmas, many groups and individuals provide an array of Christmas treats for our clients, and we do sincerely thank them.

Recently it has been necessary for us to vacate the Barwon Health house we used in Puebla Street and move into a facility in the Barwon Health Building on Torquay Road.

This room is accessible through the bus bay at the rear of the Medical Centre car park, between the hours of 1pm and 3pm each Wednesday.

We are extremely grateful to the Bendigo Bank and the Community Enterprise for funding the building of a storage shed within this precinct.

So far this year we have helped close to 50 clients and this number will no doubt increase as the year progresses.

Clients are offered the opportunity to select items of food from our range of healthy staple foods, which include milk, eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables, tinned food and other donated items. We rely on the community for support and Torquay Food Aid is well known for the generosity of the local community in providing all the support necessary for helping those among us who may find themselves in need.

Locals are encouraged to place food items in the box at the IGA supermarket or leave them at the Community House, or local Churches. In addition to this many local groups offer regular or annual support in such a marvellous way that food aid is always able to help when needed.

Anyone who finds themselves in need of some support in the way of food is welcome to come at the designated time and we will be happy to help them.

I would like to encourage the community to continue their good work in supporting, this, our local charity.

Lois Gill
Secretary, Torquay Food Aid

Tarnished like so much red leather on one side of the ball

Dear Editor,

When representing your country overseas you are an ambassador for your homeland.

You are in the public eye where you have the chance to extend the hand of friendship, spread international goodwill, and promote your nation with integrity to everyone you meet.

It’s a great honour to pack the national flag and perform this role for your country.

I know this because I’ve represented Australia overseas on 15 occasions at world town crying championships, a millennial celebration, an Anzac Day memorial, and the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I; in Canada, America, England, and Belgium.

As well as seven annual championships in New Zealand. All these trips included many other minor events.

The foolishness of the recent ball tampering incident is that it was performed in a public place under camera surveillance, with no forethought as to how it would tarnish Australia’s reputation for honesty and fair play.

Other Australians will now have to redeem our exemplary image overseas.

Melva Stott
Surf Coast town crier, Anglesea

Reg deserves a medal

Dear Editor,

As a retired alpaca breeder at Blackgate Lodge Alpaca Stud, I was dismayed to hear of another dog attack on March 29, this time two bull mastiffs attacking alpacas in Bellbrae.

Luckily, due to the macho male giving the loud distress alarm, the owner, Reg Smythe chased the dogs in his van, incredibly and bravely caught one by its collar and threw it into his van, and then did the same with the next dog.

He then called the Surf Coast Shire, who took the dogs away. By taking on two bull mastiff dogs chasing alpacas, Reg deserves a medal.

In past years I’ve had to shoot seven of my sheep and sew up the torn legs of another seven.

On another occasion, I had sheep killed when dogs travelled three kilometres from their home to attack the sheep.

At Freshwater Creek, I’ve had to daily dress the wounds and look after alpacas injured elsewhere from attacks.

Believe me, it is upsetting to the owners after the event. As an owner of two dogs, I ask owners of dogs to ensure they do not stray into the countryside.

Robbie Cuthill
Surf Coast

Whites Beach needs a clean-up

Dear Editor,

On Sunday morning of March 11, I took my dog for a walk on the dog beach (Whites) as I always do.

We had only covered around 300 metres when I realised that my dog had a fishing line caught on her.

I picked up the line and realised that the line was in her mouth. After a $3,500 vet bill I was told she had swallowed a fish bait and two long-shanked fish hooks.

This is not the first time that I and many others have picked up line with hooks as well as plastic bags full of rubbish along this beach.

Our shire representatives only seem interested in trying to get more housing developments on smaller blocks of land rather than looking after Torquay and it’s surrounds and the people they are supposed to represent.

The amount of rubbish that washes up on this beach is a disgrace; not only that, but visitors to this beach put their children and themselves at great risk because of the state that this beach is left in.

Seaweed as high as two metres regularly is left on this beach with the rubbish that people throw and leave mixed in.

Would it be asking too much for the benefit of all that use this beach for walking, running and those who spend time with their pets to have the shire clean this area up every now and then so that all who use this beach are in a safer environment.

I understand that this problem will take the shire away from trying to get another housing development set up in Torquay, but it may help to show all those who you are supposed to represent that you do have some feelings towards all who live in Torquay presently.

Lawrie B
Torquay