Siren out of date
WHAT is it with the fire siren going off in the middle of the night or early hours of the morning?
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This is 2015 - surely those required to attend to incidents can be paged or contacted via mobile phone.
Must everyone in ear shot be woken up.
The siren should only be sounded if the town is in danger. Otherwise it becomes like the little boy who cried wolf.
ANNETTE ORR
Stawell
Proceed with caution
I HAVE written to the Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville requesting that she proceed with caution when it comes to the recent announcement that the Victorian Environmental Water Holder will be purchasing 10,000 megalitres of water from the Wimmera and Glenelg waterways.
While I acknowledge that the current dry conditions in this region have had a negative impact on the environment, it is equally fair to say that conditions have seriously impacted our country towns, that rely on the availability of water, via the Wimmera-Mallee pipeline.
We need to find a balance between the needs of the environment and our regional communities, to ensure productivity is not further compromised.
The purchase of environmental water must be done without creating adverse impacts on the delivery of water to towns and farms along the length of the pipeline.
Considering the likelihood that the dry conditions will remain through to next autumn, it’s vital that farming productivity and water availability is supported and that critical human needs are met, across the region.
I have an in depth understanding of the complexities of water, both in terms of policy and practical use and have been a vocal advocate for greater recognition of the importance of water security for farming communities.
I have requested assurance from the minister that water availability will not be affected by the environmental water purchase.
ANDREW BROAD
Member for Mallee
Services will continue
MANY people, including veterans, do it tough over the Christmas period. I want to reassure veterans that help is available over the holiday period should they need it.
The Department of Veterans Affairs offices will close on Friday, December 25 and will reopen on Monday, January 4.
Veterans and their families can continue to access key services. These include:
- Crisis counselling – the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service offers 24-hour crisis counselling. This service is available toll free on 1800 011 046 to veterans of all conflicts and their families.
- Access to online mental health information and support – veterans can visit the At Ease mental health portal http://at-ease.dva.gov.au/
- Transport – if transport is required during this period but has not been pre-booked, clients can pay for the transport up front and seek reimbursement when offices re-open.
- Hospital admissions – doctors can admit patients into hospital and request retrospective approval for the admission, where required, when the department re-opens.
- Defence Service Homes Insurance – help with policy and claim inquiries is available 24-hours a day on 1300 552 662. Payments can be made on 1300 304 989 or via the website http://www.dsh.gov.au/
It is also important to note that pension payments that would normally be paid on Thursday, December 24 will be paid into bank accounts on Wednesday, December 23. The first pension payment in 2016 will be made on schedule on January 7.
SIMON LEWIS
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
