LETTER TO THE EDITOR
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I wonder how many of you are surprised that Ballarat City Council is supporting a fireworks display at Lake Wendouree on Australia day?
Perhaps you consider that it is insensitive when so many communities in our country are suffering from fire?
Alternatively, you may have heard that the indigenous community are insulted by a continued adherence to celebrating Australia Day?
New Year's Day, already a holiday, might be a more suitable date for celebrating our Nation and acceptable to all members of our community.
A further constraint could have been the results of an assessment of the risk of setting fire to surrounding vegetation, as occurred in Adelaide at New Year's Eve. Considering these three reasons, shouldn't cancellation of the event have been the result?
HAVE YOUR SAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY
Another concern is the environmentally damaging effects of fireworks on air quality as well as noise and light interfering with the evening activities of wildlife and plants. Lake Wendouree is well known for its high conservation values.
Over 100 species of birds have been recorded from the lake and, in warm seasons, numerous species of insects abound and provide food for fish as well as for species of water birds. The native water rat is more active and feeds at dusk, the same time that the firework show occurs.
Although the event may last only fifteen minutes, the low air quality resulting lasts much longer if no rain or strong winds occur. We certainly have had enough of haze blown to Ballarat from the wildfires already.
A paper published this month in an international journal by four scientists from Columbia University documents particulate matter from fireworks in the air above a metropolitan centre and its persistence.
Air quality was measured using five different methods and was particularly high over densely populated centres. The chemicals released contaminate ground water as well. Adverse effects on human health are described in this paper, and stress on domestic and wild animals.
Isn't it time to phase out firework displays altogether? A possible alternative could be a sound and light display held in a location such as Victoria Park, with fewer environmental concerns.
Penelope Greenslade, Soldiers Hill.