Crying out for attention
Nothing breeds neglect like a safe electorate.
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Here are three infrastructure projects that should have been completed a decade or more ago.
1/ The Midland Highway from Geelong to Sebastopol needs to be a four lane divided highway. When the rail freight network was allowed to collapse, the advent of B-double grain trucks changed this road’s dynamics. Expensive tinkering has done nothing to alleviate the situation.
2/ The Western Highway / Dunnstown Road intersection needs a flyover interchange. Mooted as part of the freeway construction, this important interchange was never built. Now it remains the only significant level interchange in over 100 kilometres of freeway. Fed by two garages and a food outlet, this intersection also merges the traffic from both major quarries.
3/ Geelong Road from Bradshaw street to Buninyong must be upgraded to a four lane divided road. University traffic has been added the Data Centre, Damascus College, the Catholic Primary school and numerous housing estates. There is a proposal for another 200 dwelling subdivision at Green Hill Road.
As important as the traffic conditions, are the inherent fire risks in this strip.
At Mount Clear alone there are over 2500 school students accommodated.
There are no safe fire exit roads to the East or West along this corridor. In conjunction with the road upgrade there needs to be safety upgrades at the Mt Clear oval, Damascus College oval and the Buninyong reserve as safe areas in the event of fire.
Alf Pratt, Warrenheip
Working Longer a reality
As a 73 year old semi-retired worker, with my income subsidised by a part-pension, the government’s decision to raise the pension age to seventy intrigues me.
I have operated my own small building business for forty years, so I don’t have to worry about an employer thinking I am too old to keep on his payroll.
As long as my clients are happy with the quality of my work I will be able to keep going.
I am able to select the jobs I undertake to counteract the limitations of age, and I usually don’t work an eight hour day.
I continue to work as I enjoy the commitment and lifestyle.
Most of my friends of a similar age do not have the same options as I do.
The average life span is eighty years now, considerably more than it was when pensions were first introduced some hundred or so years ago.
The truth lies in the vast improvement in medical science.
Ken Prato, Black Hill