Don’t mess with assets
I WONDER what a conversation about private investment in national parks might sound like?
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My suggestion to start off would be there should be no private development in any national park.
It is a travesty to have any new development within the boundary of any national park. There is any amount of space and opportunity in surrounding communities to cater for hotels, cafes and outdoor experiences, etc.
Whenever I visit Dunkeld, Halls Gap, Stawell or Horsham I rarely see the no vacancy signs from massive crowds. So why place new business within parks to ruin the very asset that draws visitors in the first place.
National Parks are gazetted for many good reasons and they should continue to exist for those reasons. What about farm stays, small town possibilities, wilderness experiences can be achieved with good operators on freehold land and open paddocks.
The current supporters of Grampians Tourism should tear up their membership while the staff continue to try to desecrate the national park. There is no advantage in covering a valuable natural asset with any development while many operators around the region work so hard to maintain a business that does not need any more undue competition
- Barry Clugston OAM, Stawell
Conditions under attack
IMAGINE parents and carers helping with excursions and school camps, reading time, school sports etc trying to set curriculums and teachers wages and conditions.
Imagine being on neighbourhood watch and all of sudden wanting to know all about the local police stations roster, setting the priorities, etc.
Imagine being a licence trades person and having a handy man or woman fitting off gas pipes or running some extra power points and getting someone qualified to sign off on them.
Imagine being a career firefighter and having people who volunteer to help their community in their spare time all of a sudden wanting to delay your employment terms and conditions.
These conditions that underpin so many aspects of your job that these conditions are so sacrosanct and hard fought for you couldn't imagine being attacked and labeled a thug or greedy pig for trying to improve and maintain them.
Imagine these conditions that are under attack and at threat of being dissolved and those attackers and dissolvers being informed that they won't be stopped from volunteering by your conditions or helping when they're able to but ploughing ahead to dissolve and remove anyway. Wouldn't happen would it? Would it?
- Trish Ravenhall, Traralgon
Honouring women
I HAVE met many remarkable women from across the Lowan electorate, who, through their leadership and commitment, are making lasting contributions within their communities.
We have a great depth of talent in many fields and an honour roll is an excellent initiative to ensure local women receive the recognition they deserve.
Past inductees to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women have included Melbourne Cup Winner Michelle Payne and 2015 Australian of the year Rosie Batty.
It is important the honour roll includes women from right across Victoria including our regional and rural areas.
If people know of a local woman who has made or is making an outstanding contribution to the community and is a genuine role model, then nominating them is a wonderful way of saying thank you.
Nominations close on Friday, October 7.
For more information go to www.vic.gov.au/honourrollofwomen or by phoning the Department of Premier and Cabinet on 1300 366 356.
- Emma Kealy, Lowan MP