LETTERS
Letters - 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number - can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au
Respect can end domestic violence My heartfelt thanks to the Southern Women’s Action Network (SWAN) recognising International Women’s Day with their guest speaker, [former Australian of the Year] Rosie Batty. Family violence is a national disgrace. One in three women are victims. One in four children are victims. Ms Batty acknowledged the unprecedented Royal Commission into Family Violence established by the Victorian Labor government. Furthermore, its commitment to adopting all recommendations. Rosie spoke of positive engagements within schools, police, health services and corporate businesses on this issue. Changes are beginning. However, our court system, child protective services and media regularly “blame the victim”. Without respectful relationships and equality, family violence will unfortunately continue. Jane Clarke, Rosebud
Skateboard madness Last Sunday evening (18 March) at 8.15 I was driving down a very dark Craigie Road, just past Mornington Cemetery, when I became aware of a shadowy “something” just ahead, in the middle of the road. Putting my lights on upper beam, I illuminated a teenage boy, no helmet, clad in dark clothing, skateboarding down the middle of the road. I slowed down and tooted, and was greeted with a barrage of foul language … as he continued beachwards … no attempt made to get off the road. Please parents, I know it is hard, but try and instil some road sense into your kids. I was travelling at 60kph - others go a lot faster and I just hope that this time the boy got home alive. Next time, who knows? Who wants a death on their hands? J Dunn, Mornington
Dog park rescue A 91-year-old friend of mine took her wee dog to the leash-free park where she was approached and knocked over by three large dogs. The owner of the dogs asked if she was all right. My friend nodded and was then left flat on her back on the ground. A young man out walking his children came to her rescue and made sure she was fit enough to return home. I was most upset to hear about this as I am 87 and sometimes dependent.
Name and address supplied, Mornington
Centenary celebrations Good happy 100 cheers for the Baxter Primary School centenary 18 March when the pupils, parents and friends celebrated the wonderful achievements of this often forgotten and tucked away farming community. All are to be heartily congratulated on a marvellous effort despite the chilly start to that blustery Saturday and the eventual turnout of hundreds to enjoy the school choir, the Down South Big Band, Rault family duets, animal farm, CFA demonstrations, vintage cars, carnival attractions, historical presentations, a giant birthday cake accompanied by centenarian guests and lots of local art and craft, food and drink services. Not a politician or councillor in sight. Although Watson ward councillor Julie Morris had work commitments, it has been generally accepted Mornington Peninsula Shire policy to offer a mayor or a deputy mayor for such important shire occasions. BRATPAC (Baxter residents and traders progress action committee) did a great job and, as our elected and paid representatives weren’t around, on behalf of us all who enjoyed the community joy and goodwill under difficult weather circumstances, thank you very much for your warm hospitality and community care. Ian Morrison, Mt Eliza, ex town crier for Mornington Peninsula Shire.
Say ‘no’ to water I have become aware of the proposal by Bayport Quarries wanting to extend the life of quarrying at its Somerville site. After having a win over the local residents and environmentalists opposition to the resumption of quarrying activities at the Somerville site after many years of discontinued work, Bayport is now asking for permission from the EPA to release groundwater ingress into its quarry, into the catchment of Balcombe creek. I hope the EPA is going to discourage Bayport from such a plan. The Balcombe Creek and its tributaries are under enough pressure from urban runoff and siltation and does not need more silt-laden water entering the environment. Rupert Steiner, Balnarring
Inefficient wind So, Joe Lenzo got a letter from his electricity supplier saying that his rates are reduced by five per cent, thus proving that solar and wind is cheaper (“Renewable savings” Letters 20/3/18). No it doesn’t. Joe neglects to state exactly what his tariff is. My power price went up last January and is now 22.83 cents a kilowatt hour, plus GST. My “service fee” - a real killer - is 73.1 cents, plus GST a day. Joe says we need to invest in industries in the future; well, in the past we were a very powerful and wealthy heavily industrialised clever country. For the future, you cannot run a steel mill on solar panels and one -hour capacity lithium batteries. As for wind, to equal a single 625 megawatt generator (like in the La Trobe Valley) you need about 1500 windmills of two megawatt maximum output producing (like Wonthaggi) an average of 0.4 megawatts because of wind variations and calm periods. Each windmill has to sit on about 1000 tonnes of concrete foundations. What is the cost, fiscal and carbon, of all of this? It’s madness. Don’t ever forget that while everybody agrees that the planet seems to be warming (except Europe which was frozen over recently--the worst ever) the theory that carbon dioxide is the cause is just that: a theory. There are other factors contributing to our climate. Anyway, I think that a warmer planet would be beneficial; and we have to eventually do something with the trillions of dollars worth of coal in the ground. Our country is broke, running on debt and credit. Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington
Pensioners pay already I think the people most disadvantaged by Labor’s dividend imputation policy will be part pensioners; those people who have saved up a little for investments to supplement their pensions and receive a part pension in accordance with the asset value of their savings/investments. A couple who own their own home and have assets/savings of around $400,000 would receive about $580 a week between them in age pension and would look for a safe investment for the $400,000 which would return a reasonable amount to supplement their pension. If they were to put their money into a savings account at about two per cent interest rate they would get about $154 a week to add to their pension; a total weekly income of $734. Not a lot of money. The situation is worse for those with a little more in savings and therefore have already had their pensions reduced by the LNP government’s new cut off point for assets in the means test, and the resultant steeper slope of pension
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reduction as assets increase. Therefore the pensioners look around for a better return from their $400,000. They cannot afford to buy a unit to let out so they invest half of it in shares of the type that return an average four per cent while accepting the risk of falls in their capital. That gives them a return of $154 a week plus about $51 a week as a tax return because of dividend imputation. This means the couple’s income is: pension $580, plus shares $205, plus bank interest $77; a total of $862 a week. If Labor wins government this couple’s income will be reduced to $811 a week. Age pensioners have already been hit with changes, so why should they be the ones called on to reduce the deficit? James McLoughlin, Balnarring
Act on parking Lack of parking in Frankston’s city centre is again an issue of community concern with the recent loss of parking spaces until at least September while the train station is replaced. Station builders have been given free spaces in the station car park on Fletcher Road as well as the entire car park at 122 Young St. Like when Wells and Young streets were renovated, traders are being asked to accept short-term pain for long-term gain. But a huge opportunity has been lost with the state government decision to not include extra parking in the new station. It is time for the state government and Frankston Council to put their heads together and come up with long-term solutions to the lack of parking. Bayside Shopping Centre owner Vicinity Centres should be part of discussions. It’s interesting that Bayside has increased parking charges while comparable centres like Southland and Eastland offer shoppers free parking for the first three hours. Can’t we have this in Frankston? Frankston has suffered from lack of parking for more than 40 years. We have lost business to Karingal, Mt Eliza, Mornington and other nearby centres that have free and untimed parking. The authorities talk about creating Frankston jobs. Well, if they make it easier for people to shop and do business in our city, businesses will grow and when businesses grow they need more staff. More parking will lead to more jobs. Taking the strategic view on city access, we heartily support the proposal to extend the Frankston train line. Having a 1000-space commuter car park at Langwarrin is an especially attractive idea as it frees up parking in central Frankston. Wade Savage, Tony Cimorelli and 10 other Frankston traders
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166 Main St, Mornington (next to Commonwealth Bank) PAGE 52
Mornington News
27 March 2018