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Dubbo Photo News November 19-25, 2020
NEWS EXTRA
HAVE YOUR SAY: feedback@dubbophotonews.com.au or 89 Wingewarra St, Dubbo NSW 2830.
LETTERS & FEEDBACK
OPINION & ANALYSIS
THE TOONS’ VIEWS
Call to remain vigilant on Rehab Centre The Editor, A big thank-you goes to all who have gone above and beyond to make this a reality, especially those of you who have made public the pain and suffering you all endured because of a lack of a rehabilitation facility. Thanks to the council for their initiative and hard work. It was a bit ‘rich’ for Mr Barilaro and Mr Saunders to downplay the efforts of Council to push for the facility. Over the years what have the Nationals done? Mr Saunders complained that Council “haven’t supported my efforts”. Talking to Ministers and writing a letter doesn’t cut it Mr Saunders. Now what’s next? The budget (came) down on November 17 but it is for the financial year starting July 1, 2021. Council has offered a parcel of land but the Treasurer stated construction would take place over 12 months (from when?) once a suitable location had been found. Who is going to make the decision as to the ‘suitability’ of the location? Bureaucrats in Sydney Parliament House? The Nationals? The facility is to be run and operated by the State Government? Public servants? The Treasurer said further “...in a few years (when?) those recurrent costs will commence”. In an ABC bulletin on November 9 it is stated “the funding will run until 2024”. What happens after that? The only substance in the announcement was $7.5 million. People, we need more specifics. We need to remain vigilant and we need to hold the Nationals to account and keep them honest. Kate Bailey, Ponto
Say ‘no’ to proposed Sandy Beach bridge The Editor, Not content with keeping us on water restrictions, the mayor now wants to destroy Sandy Beach. Dubbo residents have an opportunity to voice their opposition to the proposed Sandy Beach bridge at a public forum at the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre on Wednesday, November 25, at 6pm.
Promoted by Council as a ‘community consultation’, it is a ticketed event, requiring those wishing to attend to apply for a ticket online. Council argues the forum has to be conducted in this manner due to COVID restrictions; to the more sceptical in the community, it could be viewed as a ploy to discourage and limit the number of opponents attending. The tickets are of course free, but it still makes it harder for people to apply; you can’t attend without having your pre-arranged downloaded ticket with you on entry. Access to the tickets is via Council’s website. Through this portal, council also has available a concept design report, a strategic business case and a community survey for the new South Bridge. The Design report focuses on two location choices for the new bridge, Option A (Sandy Beach) and Option B, a bridge aligned with Tamworth Street but not open to it. The people who drafted the report, a mob called GHD, presented four location options to council, but our esteemed leaders deemed we could only have a choice of their two preferred options. GHD estimated the cost of a Sandy Beach bridge at just under $34 million and the Tamworth Street option at a bit over $35.5 million. In the business case, the ‘total project costs’ for Tamworth Street remain the same, i.e. no additional oncosts required, but ‘upgrades to the network’ associated with Sandy Beach adds another $7.5 million to that option, taking its total to $41.4 million. In the design report, GHD stated there were no negative impacts associated with Option B (Tamworth Street) but on two occasions was critical of Option A, Sandy Beach. On page six of the design report it stated: “The bridge crossing at Sandy Beach would significantly impact the recreational amenity and access to the popular community asset.” On page 40 of the report it clearly stated the devastating impact Option A would have: “The main disadvantage of this option is to the Sandy Beach
Council’s sample images of a proposed South Bridge over the Macquarie River. Above, Option A, and Option B below, both showing the view looking northeast.
recreational area, with the bridge going through the middle of the precinct.” On the matter of Council’s online survey, it is, like most surveys, skewed in favour of the people conducting it. The bulk of the questions ask whether you agree or disagree that a new bridge will alleviate traffic congestion in West Dubbo and make it easier to access the CBD. It’s basically like asking a kid, ‘Would you like an ice cream?’ One thing to be particularly careful of when ticking the survey boxes is to be aware of the way Council has worded the intro. In one section it asks whether you agree or disagree, but then places the ‘disagree’ box as the first option to tick. This is an old surveyors’ trick, setting you up to think the ‘agree’ box will be first and if you are not closely paying attention you will tick it. Though, to be fair to Council, they have provided several boxes where people can write their views in whatever detail they like. I fully encourage everyone to do this. The location of the South Bridge is such an important issue; I believe it should go to a referendum at the next council election. Steve Hodder, Dubbo
Time to take action on skin cancer The Editor This week is National Skin Cancer Action Week, a time where we remind ourselves of the importance of good sun protection. You may have seen the release of new Cancer Council data showing that one in four 25 to 44-yearolds are getting sunburnt on summer weekends. Many of us would have grown up with Cancer Council’s SunSmart ‘Sid the Seagull’ campaign that launched in 1980. The catchy ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ slogan (now updated to ‘Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide) has now become part of the Australian vernacular. Many of us now have kids of our own, and Sid’s simple message still resonates. Although some things are different, it’s still the same sun. So, it’s important that adults remember to not only look after themselves, but that they are also role models for their children. Walking the talk reinforces good behaviours for the next generation, ultimately saving lives – so when you put your sunscreen on, wear a hat, some sunnies, protective clothes, and play together in the shade, you’re teaching your kids a very simple but important life lesson: sun protection is for everyone.
This National Skin Cancer Action Week and all summer, remember that even though things may have changed since the campaigns of the 80’s and 90’s, it’s still the same sun, so don’t forget to SLIP on a shirt, SLOP on sunscreen, SLAP on a hat, SEEK shade and SLIDE on sunglasses! Take care, Liz King, Skin Cancer Prevention Manager, Cancer Council NSW
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