Letters To The Editor – August 16, 2018

Protest leads to hope

Dear Editor,

I was part of a group making a stand for refugees on a corner of the Surf Coast Highway this week.

I feel it is a very depressing time in Australia’s history at present. I cannot conceive how the country of the “Fair Go” can incarcerate men, women and children, most of whom are genuine refugees, for periods of up to five years devoid of all hope.

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.

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.

What an amazing surprise. The passing traffic responded to the sandwich board, “Toot for the refugees” in such a wave of support. Toots and waves were in abundance. From despondence, I moved to hope. People do care. Politicians take note.

Rosemary Faris
Torquay

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Ad hominem attacks

Dear Editor,

There is no substitute to sensible and informed discussion. The perfunctory remarks made by Don Bartlett (“No place for fossil fuels”, Letters, August 9) are typical of the ad hominem attacks made by the global warming panic merchants.

I would caution Mr Bartlett that he should be careful what he wishes for.

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.

Renewable power is intermittent and is not suited for baseload power. Only fossil fuel power stations can provide affordable and reliable power 24/7.

When Dr Alan Finkel was asked in a Senate enquiry into Australia’s energy security, “If Australia were to reduce the world’s emissions of CO2 by Australia’s share (1.3 per cent), what impact would that make on the climate of the world?” Dr Finkel replied, “Virtually nothing”.

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’s neither a sane or sensible thing to do.

Alan Barron
Grovedale

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The acid’s on groundwater extraction

Dear Editor,

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.

The problem was forewarned in the 1980s by Barwon Water’s own hydrological consultants but to no avail with annual extraction rates up to five times higher than what was recommended.

Some 40 years later and the problem has become a very big problem.

Poor water health, drawdown of groundwater, acid sulphate soils, farmland no longer productive and aquatic species decimated and it’s the duplication of the Murray Darling mismanagement story all over again.

So, how can one abuse a renewable resource like water, add a few hundred thousand people to the region’s population, throw in a three-degrees plus trajectory for climate change by as early as 2070, whittle down the planet’s 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?

Find out more: SCEG AGM, Dinner and Presentation. 6.15pm Thursday August 16 (tonight) at Quiksilver Bar 61, Torquay.

Graeme Stockton
Torquay

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Choppers for the chop

Dear Editor,

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.

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?

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.

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.

Gus Shea
Pilot and heavy maintenance engineer

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Henderson for council

Dear Editor,

It is time for Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson to give up her federal role and become a local councillor.

Instead of working federally to improve people’s wages and top wage theft, Ms Henderson is talking about council matters like a pool for Torquay.

She does this despite her embarrassing backflip on the issue at the last state election where she pulled down her pool signs and turned her back on pool supporters.

On top of this, Ms Henderson has turned her back on young families and people who work weekends; cutting penalty rates and cutting pre-schoolers education.

Her political party, the Liberal Party, is about to cut $440 million from kindergartens and preschools.

Let’s get behind Sarah Henderson’s stand for local council. Then she can vote on a pool and leave the big issues like secure work and investing in families to others.

Charles Weldon
Torquay