Opinion

Hans Paas, Castlemaine Recycling at Castlemaine tip has been a longstanding scandal and the letter from Gretel Quirk (‘Banned from the tip’, Opinions, March 5) is a welcome exposure of the poor practices tolerated by our council. Many in our shire gave up on the tip shop years ago because successive contractors have mismanaged this…

Trevor A Scott, Central Vic Climate Action A number of bleaching events between 1998 and 2018 have left much of our Great Barrier Reef without any living coral or fish. Now in the summer just gone, the hottest temperatures on record have left thousands of fish dead in the Murray Darling Basin, the largest ever…

Sharon Smith, Kyneton (on behalf of the Smith family) I want to take the time to thank our wonderful community for the support our family has received from the passing of Mozza, your support with flowers, not having to cook dinner for the last week and more importantly, your overwhelming messages of support. If I…

Gretel Quirk, Castlemaine After my husband asked a few questions about waste disposal and took a few photos to back up his concern, he got banned from entering the Castlemaine Tip (Mount Alexander Shire). Now after three months, we finally got the opportunity to speak with council, only to be told that they do not…

Ken Galbraith, Kyneton I have just received another Fact Sheet from the Kyneton Airport Research Information Group. Like the previous ‘fact’ sheets it is full of highly emotive language and allegations of council misconduct. KARIG would have much more credibility if we could find out who they are. Is it actually a group or just…

Russell S Mowatt, public liaison officer, Calder Action Group Inc Dear Natalie Hutchins MP for Sydenham and Josh Bull MP State Member for Sunbury, firstly congratulations on both of you for your recent election victory and another four years in state government. As you might not be aware there was a great news announcement for…

Darren Chester MP, Minister for Veteran’s Affairs At 9.58am on February 19, 1942, Japanese aircraft began the first of two bombing attacks on the city of Darwin, signalling the moment the Second World War was brought to our shores. Lieutenant Owen Griffiths recounted the attacks, the air over the harbour was comfortable full of Japanese…

Jill Loorham, Castlemaine Lauren Williams is correct (‘Stupid humans’, Opinions, February 19). Our roads will be joyless, shadeless places for the majority of road users if the removal of roadside trees continues. If honest consideration were to be given to roadside safety and beautiful shady vistas, roads would be more narrow with thousands of trees…

Tim Quilty MP, Member for Northern Victoria Region Victoria has become sadly familiar with the random attacks on women, and the predictable ineffectual responses that follow. If collective concern and good will stopped violence in Victoria, this would be the most peaceful place on earth. Unfortunately, the fact that the assaults keep happening proves that…

Hans Paas, Castlemaine I salute the latest valiant attempt to improve safety for cyclists ‘Respect our cyclists’ (Midland Express, February 5). At the risk of adding to the plague of road signs that traffic authorities have visited on us (except where private contractors put their money-making cameras) I also suggest that warning signs be installed…

Lauren Williams, Maldon Blame the trees? Ian Braybook (‘Put safety first’, Opinions, February 12), the ‘danger’ of roadside trees lies squarely in the behaviour of humans – namely speeding, being distracted, or driving when tired or affected by alcohol or drugs. Trees are blameless; they give us beauty, shade, clean air, and provide shelter for…