multifoliate benefit
Don Woodward's concern about urban trees (Letters 26th May) is understandable in light of our hot summers and fire risk. However, this concern needs to be tempered with an understanding of the benefits of trees in the urban environment. \
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They are important, not only for their aesthetic appeal, but for several practical reasons as well. In hot weather, they have a powerful cooling effect through their transpiration, which acts in effect like a giant evaporative cooler, and can reduce temperatures in their vicinity by up to 8 degrees. Their shading can prolong the life of bitumen surfaces and, of course, they are well known for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The importance of trees in combatting the world's current problems with global warming cannot be over-emphasised.
Our council is to be commended for adopting the 40% tree cover policy. This is now recognised as the figure that should be aspired to by all municipalities. Certainly, as Mr Woodward says, correct choice of trees is most important, and I agree that Eucalypts are an inappropriate species in an urban environment because of their flammability. It is noteworthy to view the after effects of fires in places such as Mt Macedon, where European trees often remained virtually unscathed whereas eucalypts were severely burned due to the essential oils in their leaves and the loose bark associated with the smooth-barked gum trees.
Raoul Dixon, Alfredton
Remember the work not done
National Sorry Day is a day to remember and honour the strength of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people and the mistreatment they have faced. A day to commemorate the Bringing Them Home report tabled this day in 1997; the report into what has become known as the Stolen Generation.
Shamefully, most of the recommendations from the 1997 National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families have not been implemented. The National Sorry Day Committee scorecard "finds only 13 of the 54 detailed recommendations have been implemented". The injustice the Stolen Generation faced is being perpetuated if we, as a community, ignore the inquiry's conclusions. Most of the Recommendations from Royal Commission into Indigenous Deaths in Custody have not been implemented. Shameful as, Aboriginal deaths in custody have been rising since the report was published in 1991, and aboriginal people are massively over-represented in custody.
There is a crisis. I was wondering where the Federal candidates for the Federal election stand on action on the recommendations from the Bringing them Home Report report,the Deaths in Custody report and the Blueprint for Change from the Change the Record Coalition?
Tony Goodfellow, Golden Point
Pollies’ perks
When politicians are attending to matters in Canberra, they get a daily allowance of $273.00. As well, if they are purchasing a residence in Canberra, they can also claim all the expenses of owning or purchasing this property as a tax deduction.
My wife had to attend a meeting in Melbourne for a 9am start. Her employer expected her to be there at that time, no perks, no allowance and my wife stayed with our daughter in Richmond. I am angry with the injustice of the tax system whereby the politicians get so many allowances while ordinary working Australians cannot even claim the cost of getting to work as a tax deduction. Before we can make a living and pay tax, we have to get to our place of employment at our cost with absolutely no tax deductibility. This is a very unfair system that needs to be reviewed in the light of the cost of public transport and the high cost of owning and running a car where that is your only option.
Anthony Cincotta, Scarsdale.