News
Page 6 The Moorabool News – 28 June, 2022
Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, We are told that renewable energy is the way of the future? Currently, Australia simply cannot meet its high demand to produce electricity from either coal or gas fired power stations, this is due to push renewable energy such as wind and solar as an alternative replacement. Electrical power generation is split into 2 categories: A - primary energy production and, B - secondary energy production. Primary energy production is guaranteed a fuel supply ie; coal, gas or nuclear, secondary energy production has to rely on either the wind or solar, neither of these energy sources are reliable and cannot meet "supply on demand" targets simply due to lack of wind or no sun (night time). The Labor federal government is now pushing to increase its renewable energy program. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is now pushing to connect power transmission lines to connect solar and wind farms into major city grids under his "renewable energy policy". Landowners would be forced to give up part of their land under the terms of compulsory acquisition, state governments would have the power of attorney to acquire this land. I am not an advocate of wind and solar as they simply won't meet our future demands. My trade background is electrical, and I worked in physics in electrical power generation. Tony Brimson Ballan
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
‘Battle axe’ subdivision tick By Lachlan Ellis A controversial subdivision has been approved by Council, with an extra condition to help alleviate privacy concerns from neighbours. The application for a three-lot subdivision, vegetation removal, and creation of an access to a transport road zone at 85 Inglis Street and 20 Duncan Street came before the Development Assessment Committee (DAC) on Wednesday 15 June, with a neighbouring landowner addressing Council in objection to the plans. Linda Small told Council that approval of the application would mean cars going right past her bedroom window, and would also have an effect on local wildlife due to the removal of vegetation. “We have a resident possum, and possums as you know are a protected species. They are very territorial…they require shrubs for their safety. In the last 12 months 17 trees have been removed from that backyard, which has substantially removed the habitat of possums and other wildlife living there. If the access road is put in, more vegetation will be removed,” Ms Small said. “The main issue is the proposed access road from Lot 3, that will go past our bedroom windows, about a metre from where our bedrooms are. Any privacy, quiet, et cetera…we’ll have foot traffic and car traffic going past our bedroom [if the application is approved].” Cr Rod Ward moved to approve the subdivision, with an amendment requiring a metre of landscaping along the western edge of the property, to create a buffer of trees along the driveway and provide more privacy for Ms Small. The motion was seconded by Cr Paul Tatchell but opposed by Cr David Edwards, beginning a debate. Opening the debate, Cr Ward said that he “understood increased population density should be expected” given population growth in Ballan, and he “feels the amended conditions to approve this permit will address the concerns raised by the neighbouring residents”. Cr Tatchell said he understood the objector’s issue with the subdivision and access road, but with thousands of people
expected to move to Ballan in the next 20 years, “they’ve got to live somewhere”. “I do accept the issue in relation to battle axe driveways… unfortunately that’s one of the things that happens near a main street. While we have the tool to create a one metre buffer, I feel that’s a sensible addition to this. It’s unlikely this would be successful at VCAT if it was contested,” Cr Tatchell said. “It makes sense to put the permit through rather than create an expense that’s unlikely to return a successful position for the objector. These are tough, but we’re probably going to see a lot more of them.” Cr Edwards moved to defer the application, noting that while he didn’t disagree with what fellow Councillors had said, “we can do better”, and Council wouldn’t allow a brandnew development to “have a driveway there within a metre of a bedroom”. The motion to approve the subdivision with a one metre buffer was supported by the votes of Crs Ward, Tatchell, and Deputy Mayor Cr Tonia Dudzik. With Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan out of the room with a conflict of interest, and Cr Moira Berry an apology at the meeting, the vote was therefore 3 in favour and 2 against, and the motion was carried.
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