Opinion

Trevor A Scott, Castlemaine According to the IPCC, Australia is well short of achieving its emissions reduction target, set in Paris, in 2015. In 2016, a study carried out into the retirement of coal-fired power stations in Victoria, found that in 1992 the now defunct SEC had a comprehensive plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions…

Len Young, Kyneton Lions Club The Kyneton Lions Club in conjunction with Victoria Police and Kidsflip conducted a successful operation on Saturday November 3 and would like to thank all the people who called in at the secondary college to have their number plate screws changed over. All funds raised went to help young people…

Julie Samson, Spring Hill I’m very disappointed with your front page coverage of the debate regarding VEAC’s proposed changes to the status of the Wombat State Forest. A huge photo and quotes from a VEAC spokesperson arguing for a National Park and an event that attracted 60 participants, compared with a tiny photo and three…

Maria and Nigel Hoffmann, Kyneton Just a passing comment on the ‘Meet the Politicians’ evenings. The three parties declared that they will create more jobs. In our day and age such a pronouncement sounds really childish. The community deserves to move beyond the tyranny of provided jobs that serve the few at the top and…

Trevor Speirs, Trentham On local radio and in the print media, opponents of the proposed changes to the status of the Wombat Forest have been at pains to downplay the present condition of the forest, describing it as being in a “very poor state”, with “trees the size of your finger”, which I believe is…

Graeme Henderson, Bullengarook Wouldn’t it be great if small businesses in our local community, the Macedon Ranges, paid their workers what they are legally entitled to under their particular award? Wouldn’t it be great if they paid appropriate penalty rates, paid into their workers’ superannuation funds, paid workers’ compensation premiums and paid taxes to the…

Brad Hogan, Pastoria East I write in opposition to Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s proposed planning amendments for Significant Landscape classification affecting most rural properties in the shire. My objections are as follows: 1. The shire has not involved the rural community in preservation of the environment and seeks instead to force restrictions on the farming…

John Connor, Woodend Re. ‘School in strife’ (Midland Express, November 6). I was privileged to participate in the Principal for a Day program, on four occasions from 2010 to 2016 at Langley Primary School. I found former principal Jo Mackintosh and staff a team of dedicated, educational professionals who always extended the extra effort for…

Christine Pruneau, secretary, Macedon Ranges Residents Association In 2014, the state government promised to legislate to protect Macedon Ranges “using Statement of Planning Policy No. 8 [the protective policy for Macedon Ranges since 1975] as the basis for legislative protection” and provide “the highest level of protection possible”. MRRA said it would hold the government…

Frank Lewis, Castlemaine Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns (‘Businesses need council’s support!’, Opinions, November 6) and Tony Bell (‘Spare us please!’, Opinions, October 30). I agree with both correspondents that businesses need more support from Mount Alexander Shire but for different reasons. About 50 per cent of all businesses fail in the first few years and not because…

Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns, Barkers Creek Tony Bell is a very successful businessman with decades of experience under his belt. As such, perhaps he doesn’t need the business education workshops offered by council, which he criticises in his letter (‘Spare us please!’, Opinions, October 30). Unfortunately not all business operators are as seasoned or savvy as Mr…

Laurie Whelan, Greens candidate for Bendigo West Jill Loorman writes (‘Money for jam’, Opinions, October 16) that she would vote for a political party that: (i) promises to abolish stamp duty; (ii) removes the ‘right’ accorded mineral extractive industries to explore and mine privately-owned land; and (iii) commits to full state funding for upgrade and…