SOS claim to have the support of "the people of Ballarat" but where is the evidence to support this claim? The group constantly talks about damage to the station’s "historic fabric”. The name Save Our Station is inaccurate at best, because we all know that the station is not being touched, it is not being altered at all.
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The station itself is under no threat whatsoever. In-fact the group itself complains that the station is not being altered, that it is not being made more accessible - this demand by SOS for improved access would actually see the heritage listed station altered. Improving access is desirable, but it’s a different project, the dirty old carpark and disused goods shed still need to be developed. Thankfully the current plan means the station is not being touched - that is a fact.
SOS ask for an underground bypass between the station and the disused and crumbling goods sheds, that SOS also declare should be utilised as "a local bus terminal and, via underground access link the train and bus platforms". But how will this underpass be built and link to the station without altering the beautiful heritage station that SOS claim to want to protect? Where are the plans and costings? How deep will this tunnel be? This plan seems to have been created ad hoc, by someone with no expertise.
SOS claim the land must be used exclusively for transport, but the developers are using what was previously unused land for the new multi-story carpark, a proper car park not a gravel, pothole laden, informal rubbish dump. The other lands are being developed with shops, a hotel, pathways and manicured gardens - a massive improvement on the current eyesore. Save Our Station: The work has begun, the project is going ahead, get over it. I believe most people in Ballarat want something done with the hideous, pot hole ridden dump of a carpark. Stop being contrarian for the sake of it.
With the level of anti Labor claims made in the aforementioned pamphlet and especially seeing that while on council, Joshua Morris actually launched this project and fully supported it at inception - one does have to ask is this an undeclared Liberal party smear campaign.
Stuart Walsh, Eureka
Advertising not setting the example
I am so tired of seeing ridiculous ads on TV , when advertising for cars/Utes / RVs etc show, and seem to encourage, rough driving to be desirable and even more so, normal.!!!! Rougher terrain the 'better', including river crossings, cliff-top parking ( no barriers).
We don't see seat-belts or other safety devices --- just speed, spin wheels, slide around corners. How can this type of advertising be called " responsible" promotion of safe driving --- when so many new P-platers are on the road every day.
Yvonne Smith, Warrenheip
Motorists Being Milked
Since the beginning, motorists have been milked for heavy taxes. Now a whistleblower says a multi million dollar registration fee to pay for a dud computer system has been allowed to continue milking our wallets, years after it has been paid for. Has this been quietly siphoned off into general spending at whim? A short evasive statement from Mr Andrews has me suspicious.
Colin Holmes, Ballarat.