Entry to this proud, historical city causes one's heart to sink and silent tears to form when that neglected eye-sore at 200 Victoria Street looms into sight. Another annual reunion of elderly ex-residents was being held and their cris de coeur were that the heritage listed buildings and trees remaining on site, be tastefully incorporated into a new development during our lifetime. We need to have this closure.
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On Thursday February 09, 2017, I read The Courier front page and the news article, "Heritage orphanage ruins" on page 4, and learned for the first time that no development would go ahead if parts of the site were protected in full. I know nothing of the original agreement between developers and the Council, but thanks to the vigilance and loud protests by ex-residents, heritage listings were placed on those buildings and trees which now remain on the site.
Where is the commitment from the hard-nosed developers, the City Council (who give one the impression that they are happy to allow "demolition by neglect") and other interested community groups, to push forward with the development? They need to open their eyes wide and take a good look at what the visitor sees. Does apathy rule? Cannot a new proposal be put forward by the Council to the developers incorporating these treasures? If nothing is achieved very soon, the site should be put up for sale and bought by the Victorian Government? Shame on everyone involved with this fiasco. The gateway to this famous historical city in the Golden Triangle, is an utter disgrace. Accommodation houses, businesses and local residents should all get together and start a very active We Love Victoria Street movement and push relentlessly for a befitting and beautiful entry to your proud City.
Joyce Kendall, Burleigh Waters
WAGE RILES READERS
I, along with many Australians, was astounded to see the report of the CEO of Australia Post receiving an income of between five and six million dollars a year. He was offended that this information had been disclosed, but maybe not as offended as many Australians on seeing it. I am thinking of the thousands of men and women who daily walk or ride their trusty little honda 90s to deliver our mail; rain, hail or shine. Rain that can be so uncomfortable that even many enthusiastic golfers would decline going out in it. That one person can receive an amount of that magnitude which could virtually be unspendable for most decent, honest men and women seems unjust. Such a public and vital institution should be kept under some control, be it government or court authority, and be visible for all to see. I wish to praise and thank all those Posties who do such a great job, either side of the counter.
Ian B. Harris, Clunes
There has been a lot said of the $5.6 million annual wage paid to Australia Post CEO, Ahmed Fahour. In the corporate world, this sort of payment isn't unusual, but when Mr Fahour has presided over the dismantling of Australia Post services, you'd have to say it is a remarkable salary. If we use our local postal service as an example, Australia Post has deteriorated enormously under his leadership. In Western Victoria, our mail used to be sorted by a handful of staff at the Ballarat Mail Centre. You could post a letter from Beaufort to Ararat, and in most cases it would be delivered the next business day. It was a good service. Now we have a situation where that letter is driven past Ballarat, all the way to Dandenong. It then gets sorted (eventually) and might arrive in Ararat a week later if you are lucky.
Then there is the new pricing structure where the cost of sending a letter rose 30% to $1; only for our letters to receive a lower priority. If you pay an extra 50 cents for a "priority" sticker, it might arrive a bit sooner; again if you are lucky. It's argued that the changes and price increases were necessary to stem the losses incurred by Australia Post's letter delivery business.