Resist the temptation for blame when safety is the priority
Yesterday the Everett family spoke with the Courier regarding their son/brother's death on Remembrance Drive. The story was tragic ..... a young boy driving home, falling asleep and being killed after hitting a tree. There was no benefit for the family in speaking out, just a glimmer of hope that perhaps barriers may be installed along the notorious stretch of road to reduce the possibility of further deaths. Whilst there were many positive online comments made, I feel sickened to think that there are people amongst us that are so callous that they felt the need to lay blame. Surely none of us want to see the death toll rise for any reason! If barriers would help, let's investigate it and prevent further casualties. To the Everett family, I can only apologise on behalf of those who saw fit to make hurtful comments.
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Bronwyn Harrison, Snake Valley
The latest moves to support state sanctioned racism by changing the current wording of Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act is the final straw in the ruination of the Turnbull government. After the disgrace of the Abbott leadership and its consequent downfall, Malcolm Turnbull was thought to promise so much more. He has fallen hopelessly short in support of his own professed values on climate change, on marriage equality, on building a modern economy and now catastrophically on community cohesion. The attempt to water down the Racial Discrimination Act by right-wing extremists is hostile to our ethnic communities and traditional land owners, offensive to the vast majority who have no truck with a more racist Australia, and politically fatal for the current government.
Pat Hockey, Clunes
Railway precinct verdict is clear
Eighty percent of Ballarat people, according to a 'Courier' poll, don't want the current proposal of apartments and exhibition centre for the Ballarat railway station precinct. From comparatively recent statements, it appears neither do the Ballarat City Council nor the State Government.
In October 2016 with members of the Save Our Station group, the Mayor, Cr Des Hudson, said Council would oppose any project that was less than a four star plus hotel and the 3,000 square metre convention/exhibition centre. Yet in the most recent issue of 'MyBallarat' magazine, the Council is touting the virtues of the downscaled apartments and exhibition centre.
Meanwhile, back in 2014, in various media interviews, then Opposition Leader, Daniel Andrews, stated his preferences for the precinct: transport needs first, development of balance of site second, once it has been decided what should happen on that 'balance'.
This is the same position held by the 'Save Our Station' group. What's happened in between? Where are the transport needs assessment for our City, with its burgeoning growth? How did VicTrack come to decide, in the first place, that so much of the station site is 'surplus to requirements?
These and many other important questions remain unanswered. But one question - a vital one - has been answered: the people of Ballarat don't want what is being proposed. .
Hedley Thomson, Canadian
Of little benefit to city
The claims in Sharon Knight's opinion piece in The Courier on Friday March 24 must be refuted.
Her assertion that the rail precinct is an eyesore is in fact due to successive governments wilful neglect and the lack of advocacy from successive councils.
Her statement that the state government will build a multi-storey car park is not true - multi means many; the government's plan is for two levels, which is the same as at the Civic Hall. The footings proposed will not allow for extra levels.
The proposed "Pelicano" development - a 4.5-star Quest apartment hotel and convention centre - will supposedly create 140 jobs, but not through employing local Ballarat people. The building of a 4.5-star Quest hotel will send some accommodation providers in Ballarat broke if the current accommodation occupancy in Ballarat is only 60%.
As to the statement regarding retail opportunities, have our politicians had a walk around Ballarat shopping areas lately? Tenants cannot be found for the long-empty north platform of the station and the current occupant of the historic coach house is soon to leave.
To liken the restoration of the Mining Exchange to the Goods Shed is not a valid comparison; the refurbishment of the Mining Exchange left the building intact except for the addition of a heated floor. The government's plan for the Goods Shed is to divide it up and plaster board the interior - that isn't how we restore historic buildings. In fact, the proposed works will deface the inside of the building rather than celebrate its history.
As to car parking, the plan will reduce the number of parking spaces available when in actual fact we need much more parking. You only need a cursory look at the station carpark now to see how obvious that is.
And finally, jobs and opportunities will be created for people if we have an integrated transport hub at our Central station so people can use public transport efficiently, particularly rail, to commute to Melbourne, to travel for business, to travel to Ballarat to visit and to pursue their leisure interests.
I do not understand the confected excitement about this station development that will create a lemon for Ballarat and the wilful waste of taxpayers' money, when it is obvious as the nose on your face that public transport and an integrated central transport hub is what is needed now and into the long-term future.
It is about having a vision and planning for the long term not a short-term political fix to shore up the electoral fortunes of our current government representatives.
Ballarat stand up and be counted before it is too late.
Ron Egeberg, Soldiers Hill
