Reluctance, reticence or simply not knowing the answers?

By CHRIS EARL

FOR three months - we won’t argue over a few days - communities across the Loddon have been probing for answers on the 500 kiloVolt VNI transmission lines that could be strung across the region in quicker time than Government funds flow to repair damage from last October’s floods.

Some questions have been answeredsort of - and were part of a mea culpa-style presentation by Australian Energy Market Operator representatives at the Loddon Herald forum earlier this month.

We have heard why “consultation” was conducted in a certain way, been given an indication of what might happen next in a form of local engagement and when some more information could be fed out to landowners, farmers, Loddon Shire and communities.

A reboot to bring communities on a journey? Perhaps, but AEMO and the State Government are starting light years behind after putting local people offside since February’s shock change of preferred route, just as they are still to smooth connection with towns and people around the route of Western Renewables Link the other side of the Great Divide.

All the fact sheets under the sun that could be generating local energy have done nothing to massage concerns and fears. They are, after all, theoretical documents

LEttERS tO tHE EDItOR

Priorities on issues a concern to resident

Sir, There have been several letters in the press recently calling out the conflict of interest that so many of us can clearly see but to which three councillors seem oblivious.

The notice of motion that Mayor, Cr Dan Straub put forward at April’s council meeting that ‘Loddon Shire make a submission supporting duck shooting to the Select Committee Inquiry into Victoria’s Recreational Native Bird Hunting Arrangements’ has alarmed many residents.

As Cr. Straub was a former political candidate for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party and also a founding member, former President and current member of the Victorian Duck Hunters’ Association

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An Opinion Piece By Regional Victorian Opposed To Duck Shooting Stirs Readers

Michelle Mead wote: Ecotourism is definitely the way of the future with huge economic advantages to small communities still struggling post the pandemic. In particular the Lodden region has very unique wildlife. Surely observing our wildlife rather than killing it is a much better option?

Drew Chislett wrote: Michelle Mead, in our area we have dams with hundreds of ducks sitting on them currently. Some of these ducks have done the full circuit to Asia and back and carry a range of diseases and create serious contamination issues to livestock water. At night they mow down large areas of crop poking it’s head out of the ground We don’t want them wiped out but they do need controlling.

Mick Coleman wrote: Is the problem that people are feeding themselves and their

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that, farmers say, don’t stack up with practical agricultural practices today let alone allow for future trends in machinery size and use.

AEMO has now confirmed that VNI West will have capacity to feed in locallyproduced wind or solar energy. But how much? What is the interconnector’s “spare’ capacity.

And one big question that went unanswered at the Wedderburn forum: Will we all be back here in five years discussing plans to extend easement widths to accommodate a duplication of the interconnector and increase capacity?

We don’t know, still, whether VNI and its relative place within a national gridand potential spiderweb of transmission lines in eastern states - is a project of yesterday, today or tomorrow?

Maybe that question is beyond the remit of AEMO to answer. Certainly, Energy Minister Lily d’Ambrosio could enlighten everyone but despite issuing orders that will see this project started within months, cannot find time in her busy schedule to come, meet face-to-face and talk and listen with communities through which one part of the spiderweb may very well be woven.

Just as it has been claimed the approach and attitude of AEMO has been disrespect- this decision does not pass the ‘pub test.’ A councillor’s private interest must not overlap with their official duty. We expect better. We expect our elected officials to act fairly and without bias when making decisions which affect the rights and interests of others.

I have no issue if Crs. Straub, Beattie and Holt wished to prepare their own individual submissions supporting duck hunting in Loddon Shire if they did so at their own cost using their own resources. I do not accept that it is fair and reasonable that three ‘leaders’ with their own personal agendas can use their voices to speak for over 7700 of us, many of whom wish duck hunting would end. How can such a decision be democratic?

The same three councillors who supported the above mentioned motion rejected Cr. Jungwith’s motion for a climate risk ful, particularly by the Victorian Farmers’ Federation, to local people, so must the minister’s reluctance, even reticence, to venture north to community’s her orders will impact be questioned.

Angst and frustration have already been directed towards AEMO. The feeling of people close to the campaign for greater, and better, consultation and engagement is even more annoyance with the minister.

There are alternatives being put forward VNI West - Professor Bruce Mountain has already questioned the AEMO plan, that was naturally dismissed by the operator that has a majority public ownership of Federal and State Governments.

Professor Mountain is promising a detailed alternative plan after AEMO confirms its VNI West route.

The State Government should seriously consider any alternative that is more efficient and also cost effective as it surges ahead with a transition to renewable energy, a transition with a timetable closer to that of an impetuous revolutionary.

An already costly plan cannot blow out amid a landscape of haste. Answer the questions and if that can’t be done, admit with a little bit more mea culpa.

* ChrisEarlistheLoddonHeraldeditor

1. Who discovered penicillin?

2. Which infamous wall came down in 1989?

3. A Vodka Martini is the preferred drink of which fictional spy?

4. Mount Franklin (in Victoria), is what type of land formation?

5. The Merino breed of sheep originated in which country?

6. True or False – The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world.

7. Gymnorhina Tibicen is the scientific name for which bird?

8. Neil Armstrong is famous for being the first what?

9. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created which famous detective?

10. And in how many separate pieces of writing by Doyle did that detective feature?

11. Former AFL player Dane Swan played for which club?

12. Who was the lead singer of the Australian band, The Seekers?

13. A formicary is built and inhabited by which creature?

14. A heptadecagon is a shape with how many sides?

15. Lemurs are native to which island?

report. The reason cited by Cr Holt was that council did not have the resources or available staff to undertake this work.

Interesting though, don’t you think, that resources could be found quickly enough (within eight business days) to prepare and lodge the council submission by the closing date of May 8? Really?

I query your priorities council. If only council was so timely in responding to correspondence from residents. When will you respond to accusations of conflict of interest and misuse of council resources?

And spare me your spin around ecotourism Loddon Shire.

Actions speak far louder than words. The actions of three councillors have demonstrated a complete lack of transparency and credibility.

C.Norman Inglewood

diculous things I ever heard in my life was (Cr Dan) Straub saying, killing native birds is “nature tourism”. Really! An absolute juvenile comment from a man baby who wants to play with guns. Please vote so carefully at the next council election folks, Loddon is looking more and more like a great place for even more rednecks to relocate to. Think progressive, not tradition.

Dale Stephenson wrote: With bag limits on the number of birds you can take it’s a healthy financial benefit for the local community, and it keeps the numbers of birds at a safe and healthy level.

16. What is the only letter in Scrabble to have a value of 5 points?

17. The Ghan train journey between Adelaide and Darwin takes how long one way?

18. Which English King had eight wives?

19. In which state or territory would you find Loch Sport?

20. How many bones are in a

Answers

that you have the right to tell others they can’t. Anti duck hunting protesters are saying anything they can to try and demonise anything to do with shooting. Where’s the opposite side of the story about how awful the protesters are? Their dirty tricks. Their false accusations and lies. Best the Loddon Herald do an article on them too.

families self sufficiently. The flora and fauna wiped off the map to produce feed for vegans is ridiculous. Why aren’t those critters protected more than ducks?

Glynn Jarrett wrote: One of the most ri-

Amber Gibson wrote: Next you’ll be banning of driving cars! Are you aware of how many insect with feelings you kill every time you drive your car?

Mick Korong wrote: What an antagonistic and biased article. Full of skewed statistics and attacks on people. Just because you don’t like duck shooting, does not mean

David Horan wrote: Glynn Jarrett, I think if you’re aligning duck hunting with the USA gun culture you’re delirious. The gun laws in Aust are very stringent ... can you walk into a gun shop with no licence & walk out with a gun? C’mon, there’s probably been more people killed in the US than illegal birds killed this year alone.

Bruce McCahon wrote: (Loddon Shire decision) just another example of representatives of the majority presenting common sense and balance.