Now that our councillors have returned from their fact-finding mission to the Historic Cities Conference, and while the beauty of the cities they visited is still in their memories, l urge them to visit the said roundabout without delay with a view to halting its progress immediately.

Overnight, as it were, and without any warning to residents or ratepayers, a "beautification" is taking place which is extremely ugly and out of context in this heritage area. I am also reliably informed that these signs are to be connected with a rainbow and coloured sticks. Whatever next! I am all for harmony in the community but the cash-strapped council could address the matter practically.

Ballarat is renowned as the Garden City, and as such, a roundabout in this position, so close to the jewel in the crown, Lake Wendouree, needs sympathetic planting. This must be addressed as a matter of urgency before further costs are involved in its dismantling.

Christine Sutton, Ballarat.

Concerns expressed on these pages (Letters 16/6) that Ballarat City Council's move to divest from fossil fuel investments will lead to poor returns are quickly allayed. As recently as June 11, the Australian Financial Review reported that the leading index of cleantech stocks had outperformed the ASX 3 to 1 since 2013.

You don't have to be Einstein to realise a global population approaching 9 billion in the decades to come will not be able to exploit fossil fuels in the manner that we have in the past. Believe it or not, in the future that is with us now, our lifestyles must and will be cleaner, smarter and more profitable.

James Hockey, Clunes