David Chadderton, Wendouree

Ridiculous event. Far too difficult to police to ensure users complying with all the rules. 4 scooters abandoned around the Arch of Victory late yesterday still there this morning. Whose going to clean them up? Saw three teenagers scooting down the footpath in Gilles Street yesterday lunchtime at the Sturt Street intersection. They were helmeted but speeding on the footpath. And this was just the first day. Stupid, dangerous idea by the council.

Roger Philo, Alfredton

I am afraid while the scooters are a good idea it will suffer the same fate as the bicycles that were introduced in Melbourne with the same concept. To be successful this concept requires that people act responsibly and have respect for the property of others.

Unfortunately in the me-too generation of today that is no longer a given. In Melbourne a large number ended up in the Yarra I can see the same thing happening here with our beautiful lakes precinct being the venue.

Driving around the lake today on a number of occasions I came across young people no helmets on , in the bicycle lane acting up. It's only a matter of time before there is an accident with cyclists or worse still a vehicle.

Pat Cerra, Miners rest

E-scooters and the demise of the pedestrian. The E-scooter experiment is not working. Following use they are being left scattered randomly on Ballarat Central's footpaths causing a major trip hazard, obstruction and a visual affront. Despite the claimed 'geofencing technology', the scooters are being ridden on footpaths further endangering pedestrians. I hope that the City of Ballarat have good public liability insurance.

The E-bike experiment in Melbourne was a total failure for similar reasons highlighted above. A great many of the bikes ended up in the Yarra. We do not have a large river but we do have the Lake.

Arthur Shulkes, Ballarat.

As far as Christmas spoilers are concerned the Covid Omicron variant has no modern equal. It has come at a time when our patience is thin and our capacity to fight again under stress.

There is little doubt that the new variant will travel even more quickly than before, effect more households, more businesses and stretch hospital acute services.

Unique to this variant's management, a booster dose is vital, and it comes at a time when we are gearing up for immunising primary school age kids. The overlapping demands will require immunisation to continue at a pace that won't allow staff back into acute care where demand has never been higher.

We are going to need to support our Public Health Units as never before, strengthen our capacities to manage patients at home and support our frontline heath care workers.

State Government Health Department in the end bears the responsibility to protect us, as far as Government direction can, and treat us when will need hospital admission. We can be proud of our fight so far against this disease as individuals and collectively though Government and our Health Care system but unfortunately our resolve can't waive now ,as much as fatigue with restrictions dominates our thoughts.

We need to let Government know resources will be needed well before our winter peak and the need for economic support for business and individuals will be ongoing.

We all really need a merry Xmas and happy New Year but it's still going to be tough fight.

Dr Mark Harris, Ballarat

Australia currently produces zero passenger vehicles. The vehicle fleet will be replaced over time by what foreign manufacturers are selling. All major vehicle manufacturers are planning on the majority of their production being low emissions vehicles by 2030; mostly electric or hybrid. About 86% of Australians live in urban centres and drive about 36km per day. Current electric vehicles (EV) would be ideal for this type of usage.

Each EV currently has a battery of 30-40 kWh of storage, as opposed to about 15 kWh for your typical home battery. Most people with an EV will charge them with cheap solar power during the day and use some of the power from their EV to supply their power needs at night.

About 25% of Australian houses have Solar Panels. Owners are paid as little as 6c kWh for the solar feed-in tariff. Those with an EV will be able to store electricity for later use rather than 'give it away'. Power costs will essentially be free, night and day. As the number of EV's increases they will act as a giant dispersed battery to stabilise the National Electricity Grid.

There is no incentive for manufacturers to send the full range of available EV models to Australia, until the Federal Government improves vehicle emission standards. Australia has many of the minerals needed and the energy resources to become a major manufacturing powerhouse. My concern is not 'range anxiety' but 'vision anxiety'. Have politicians the vision, or will they just stuff up this opportunity, very badly?

Daryl Trainor, Wendouree.

I would like to offer my thanks to the Courier for printing the story on Mackenzie Williams. She is quite an amazing nine year old with a maturity beyond her years and the most beautiful caring nature. If only we were all like her

Trish Treacy, Cohuna

I've been living near the corner of Howitt and Chisholm Street, Black hill for nearly 12 months and really think that the Howitt street section heading towards Sherrard street from the Chisholm street roundabout needs to be looked at for some sort of speed restrictions or speed bumps.

Its current speed is 60kph. I know its a main thoroughfare to Wendouree but the speeds some people get up to is more like 100km/h. Then there is the noise from Harleys, trucks, V8 cars and so many near misses at this intersection. There are so many hoons at night coming down from Black hill lookout, drifting around the roundabout. It's time for some police presence especially between 4pm and 6pm, or better still a speed camera. Anything to improve the current situation.

Marcus Campbell, Black Hill.