THE forecast was for 26 degrees and sunny. What a gorgeous spring day for our lunchtime barbecue!
We had planned it for a while, four couples and their kids up from the suburbs. All was going superbly until one of our neighbours decided to burn off.
Suddenly our stunning day had gone from clear blue skies to a dreadful smoky haze. It was so unpleasant that the kids could not play outside in the yard as they couldn’t breathe properly.
We also had to move inside because of the appalling pollution.
Our beautiful day with friends had gone sour and they decided that fresh mountain air was purely a myth. We have all probably experienced a similar scenario.
Why do we have to put up with this smoke pollution? Because currently the Yarra Ranges Shire allows it.
I can go to a restaurant and enjoy a steak in a smoke free environment, yet unbelievably I cannot enjoy the same privilege at home.
Why must we inhale second hand smoke every weekend, and worry if the kids are suffering permanent health damage from constantly breathing in smoke fumes.
This week is only the second green waste collection of the year.
The problem is that we have no frequent green waste recycling alternative.
How about giving us a real recycling alternative, and limit the need to inflict second hand smoke on the community?
I know we need to minimise bushfire risk, however there are alternatives to burning off.
For example, Nillumbik Shire (Eltham, Hurstbridge etc) has a fortnightly green waste collection and accompanying legislation to give their kids the clean air they deserve.
Let’s stop the pollution, it’s the least the shire can do.
M. Sheahan
Belgrave
I READ with interest the comments of La Trobe MP Jason Wood defending the Howard Government’s proposed extreme workplace laws in the Mail (15 November).
Mr Wood claims that these proposed extreme workplace laws will: “encourage employers to employ more people”.
The Department of Treasury has not even been asked by the Howard Government to examine the possible economic impacts of these proposed extreme workplace laws.
There is no empirical evidence to demonstrate that these proposed extreme workplace laws (that wind the clock back to the Master and Servants Act 1828) will create any jobs.
Clearly these proposed extreme workplace laws are driven by ideology not economics. On what basis Mr Wood do you justify your claim that: “as students graduate they’ll have more chance of getting a job”.
The unique Australian Industrial Relations system of awards as a safety net of pay and conditions, together with an independent umpire (the Australian Industrial Relations Commission) to resolve disputes, have provided employers and employees with a “fair go” and relative industrial peace for over a century.
The Howard Government’s proposed extreme workplace laws throw the baby out with the bath water in their ideological zeal to decrease the bargaining power of workers.
In the same article, Mr Wood goes on to claim: “the teachers, like anyone else, have the right to protest and that’s what’s great about this country”.
That is correct Mr Wood, unless you are a building worker, in which case you may be fined $22 000 and face six months jail for exercising your “right to protest” under the Howard Government’s Australian Building Construction Commission laws.
Mr Wood, under your Government’s laws, a person’s “right to protest” is not universal but is determined by their trade or profession.
In another article in the same edition, Recalling Stories of Wartime Valour, Mr Wood mentions the: “contributions made by our soldiers who fought to guarantee our freedom”.
Mr Wood, the freedom that these soldiers fought for and won is now being seriously threatened by the oppressive and unjust industrial relations laws of your Government.
Unless the Howard Government dominated Senate rejects the proposed extreme workplace laws, our children will have less freedom and fewer rights at work than we inherited.
Greg Pargeter
Selby
ELECTION time is well and truly upon us and there are candidates who don’t live in the ward and candidates who obviously know little of the area.
I read with amazement the statement of Dobson Ward candidate Karen Dickie, vowing to lobby for the construction of Quarry Road.
Ferntree Gully residents were informed months ago via the Friends of FTG Village News that Cr Orpen had negotiated sealing of the road, traffic slowing treatment and remodelling of the intersection of Quarry Road and Forest Road at the cost of the developer.
Why would we support the use of ratepayer money for something the developer has already agreed to pay for?
If these people want to have any credibility, the least we should expect is that they do their homework on local issues, have they attended any council meetings, are they genuinely interested in the ward they are trying to be elected into or some other motivation?
Tricia Kirk
Ferntree Gully
OVER recent weeks, the Knox community has read with interest the debate over the fate of the historic Ferntree Gully Primary School.
From the outset, the Liberal Party firmly believes that the school’s future should be determined by the school community.
Unfortunately, the Bracks Labor Government has done little to provide the school with a positive future.
Over recent years, the school has been under-funded. In fact, the Government’s own documents proved that recently the school faced a maintenance shortfall of in excess of $163,000.
Furthermore, the Liberal Party has obtained statistics under Freedom of Information that identifies nine state schools throughout Ferntree Gully, Boronia and Rowville face a combined maintenance backlog of over $1.8 million.
The Bracks Labor Government did not want this damning information to be made public.
It is time the Government stopped focusing on photo opportunities and wasting its energies on painting trees blue in Melbourne’s parklands; and started spending its resources on fixing our local schools.
Nick Wakeling
Liberal Candidate for Ferntree Gully
I AM closely associated with two people currently running in the Shire of Yarra Ranges council elections.
I would like to voice my disgust and dismay at the appalling behaviour of several people who have put themselves up for election in opposition against standing councillors and their “friends” who have taken it upon themselves to phone other candidates to offer abuse.
It’s a shame some members of the community will not see these people for who or what they really are – childish, unprofessional and certainly not someone who should be representing the community in such an important role on council.
Anyone who stoops to punitive mudslinging and vindication without fact is certainly not worthy of my vote!
Bronte Schofield,
Kallista.
WITH the council elections upon us, many of us wonder if they ever make a difference.
For instance, if we voted in a new member for Olinda would the bus shelter erected two years ago on the wrong side of the road, be moved to the side from where people catch the buses? I think not.
I believe public transport issues such as this are made by people who don’t catch buses but drive around in provided cars.
Mike Taylor
Olinda
