Make some noise
I WONDER how many people in our shire follow council business unless reported in the paper?
Yes, a lot of us are aware of the aquatic strategy bouncing around our region and Cohuna, Koondrook, Leitchville and Quambatook people are extremely concerned about the possible ramifications of this. As readers of the Gannawarra Times, we have been updated pretty well on that.
However, I wonder how many folks are aware there is a planning application before council tomorrow night (page 106 of the meeting agenda) for a free range piggery for 5000 pigs in an environmentally sensitive region of our shire.
Yes, right on our Gunbower Creek where the Wetlander operates just upstream from Koondrook. Right near where we have a very sensitive fresh water turtle site for nesting and hatching, where council promotes glamping, bush walking, canoe trails and possibly a rail track link with Kerang and Koondrook to make Koondrook even more desirable as a destination.
Just upstream from the new fish ladder and weir prior to the creek entering the Murray River. Just upstream from the boat ramp at Koondrook and the Koondrook pontoon, the newly opened goods shed restaurant and the all abilities playground.
All projects in which council has invested large amounts of money. The new B and B in the main street under construction and the upgrades of older facilities shows the investments private citizens are prepared to make in Koondrook.
Council procedure is such that the planning staff does not have any option to refuse this planning application.
Basically providing imposed conditions are met – and there are many – staff makes the recommendation to approve the project. It will be up to the councillors to accept the recommendation or reject it on whichever ground they choose, which they should do as there are many more suitable sites for such an activity in our shire.
This is a water wonderland, as is the whole of the Gunbower Creek throughout our shire.
Yes, over the years there have been many questionable activities operated on the creek, but in those earlier days we were less environmentally conscious and planning permits were not required. We have a great place in Gannawarra with many freedoms and lovely scenery.
There are 46 written objections from within our community to this proposal. This project should not go ahead on the vote of our councillors.
There will be an option for the applicants to then go to VCAT and plead their case for approval, but at least council staff will then be able to go and voice their case for refusal.
This is not an issue of favourable economic development for our shire.
At most four staff (as per paperwork) will be employed. It is an ‘outside our shire’ company investment and proceeds and benefits will leave our shire.
Pig odours are different to cows and there are some risks of odour and dust creating an inhospitable environment for people who now enjoy the creek and its environs there.
Please, people of Gannawarra, it is not too late to make some noise and ask your councillors to vote against the recommendation.
Keith den Houting
Kerang
Vote them out
AN important decision is facing Murray Valley voters. Do I support the political party which I and my parents have supported for generations? The conservative parties have deserted us, so we need to desert them.
If the lunatics were not running the asylum, would we have things like the stripping of irrigation water from our irrigation districts, gender fluidity and the green religion taught in schools, closing reliable coal fired power stations in favour of unreliable and intermittent solar and wind and breastfeeding nurses sacked because they called mothers, Mothers. The list is endless and we hate it.
We urge voters to make the seats of Mallee, Nicholls and Farrer marginal. We have been totally ignored for too long.
In Farrer, our local member has been in parliament for the duration of the water debacle and has not raised a finger in dissent, she must bear responsibility for the outcome we have had to endure. Couple that with the appalling destruction of the river channel which she totally ignores. Please don’t give her your vote.
We urge voters along the Murray Valley to put the major parties in the last three places, with the independents and minor parties ahead of them in the order that you decide.
Palmer is the only one that talks about repaying our enormous government debt, the Liberal Democrats have really good policies as also has One Nation, who are also very knowledgeable and supportive on water issues.
In Mallee, we believe Sophie Baldwin to be an excellent candidate.
Voters may say “we need to support a conservative candidate” but it didn’t do us any good in the 2019 election.
Vote for self-interest, somebody who will support their electorate and not the political machine.
Meanwhile, the politicians from the government are running around throwing money at marginal electorates trying to buy votes with taxpayers’ money.
They take us for idiots that can be bought.
Vote the lunatics out.
Ron and Val McWhae
Barham
Missing in the room
SOPHIE Baldwin says she advocates for water and the environment.
Ms Baldwin, along with all the other known Mallee candidates, was invited to attend a recent Sustainable Living in the Mallee event where the latest science and data was explained from a Mallee perspective.
If she was as passionate as myself and the other candidate who attended, she would have made sure she was in the room.
Ms Baldwin would have been held to account on her self-interest on water and her connection to the Southern Riverina Irrigators (SRI) group who parachuted her in as a candidate, to put their vested interest on water into government.
We all know there is nothing that stops politicians lying in an election.
So how can Ms Baldwin be trusted on water, when she says one thing, but her conflicting stance and position as SRI executive, says another?
She says she has made her position clear, but we still do not have answers to the question, “What is your relationship with SRI if you say you do not have corporate backers?”
And, given that integrity is the major platform we, as independents, stand for, it is imperative you make this clear and put all of Australia and the electorate first, not just your interests.
This is a classic example of “Look not on what they say, but what they do”.
Claudia Haenel
Independent candidate for Mallee
