RATWISE needs to be applauded for its persistence in trying to stop hazardous wastes going into the Lyndhurst tip.
The group now has the support of the legal advice provided to the City of Greater Dandenong by Mark Dreyfus QC.
This advice validates the RATWISE claim that hazardous wastes are deposited at the Lyndhurst tip prohibited by the planning permits.
Hazardous wastes are wastes such as arsenic, cyanide and mercury and these wastes were prohibited by the former Shire of Cranbourne.
This was commonsense as the tip was, and still is, across the road from market gardens and residents and in an area prone to flooding. The area is also sandy with porous rocks.
This means that the groundwater in the region, which is used, can be easily contaminated by any leaking from the tip. Prohibiting hazardous waste is even more relevant today as there are large residential estates less than a kilometre away from the tip.
It was against all commonsense when a former Labor government allowed hazardous waste to go to the Lyndhurst tip in the first place.
Will the current Labor government continue on with this lack of commonsense? Will this Labor government continue to break the promise it made some five years ago to stop hazardous waste going to the Lyndhurst tip? Will it intervene and prevent the justice that the local community is so entitled to?
Or will this Labor Government finally do the right thing and leave it to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to determine the future of the Lyndhurst tip?
Jani Breider,
Hampton Park.
THE council election results have some cringeing and some pleased.
I simply wish to ask that those who base their campaign and desire to rope in councillor spending and who constantly write letters about junkets and wasted ratepayer funds look more closely at their own performance. Steve Beardon had a shot at council last time and decided on principal to quit the position.
This cost the community tens of thousands of dollars in a by-election.
It seems hypocritical to slam councillors constantly over wasted funds whilst in power when you yourself managed to do more financial damage to the city single handedly in months through direct actions.
Although Mr Beardon’s point is valid on wasted funds and trips abroad, he really needs to appreciate that he has a lot to answer for on his past decision to bail. Let’s all hope that those in power will focus on the common good rather than self proclamation and promotion. Find new agendas, new forums and less back patting in the future.
David Black,
Berwick.
I WOULD like to express my appreciation to all the people of River Gum Ward who voted for me in the Casey council election.
Unfortunately it was not quite enough to elect me to council. I will continue my community work through the Hampton Park Progress Association and other committees.
Congratulations to Janet Halsall and Wayne Smith on being elected to River Gum Ward and the other successful candidates. We, the residents of Casey, expect all councillors to work together to keep our rates low, with maximum improvement to all areas, without expensive overseas and interstate trips.
Warren Calder,
Hampton Park.
I HAVE recently moved into the area and have been following the situation with the application for the Ahmadiyya Association to build a mosque in Clyde.
With the current tensions regarding terrorists in our midst, it is not surprising that the local people would not want a new mosque in their community.
However, one point I would like to make is that a bit of knowledge can’t hurt. A quick search online shows that the Ahmadiyya muslims are actually considered heretics by the more mainstream groups. Even Amnesty and Human Rights Watch organisations consider them to be endangered religious groups.
They are a truly moderate, peaceful and non-violent group, who wish to be a part of the community.
If we are to continue as the tolerant, democratic society that Australia is, then surely we would not be wrong to consider that this small group could enhance our region.
Deb Franklin,
Doveton.
AS A newly elected ward councillor for Four Oaks, within the City Of Casey, I would like to thank the community for electing me as one of your ward councillors.
I appreciate your support and co-operation in allowing me to represent you as council representative of Four Oaks over the next three years.
I will immediately pursue the community issues, I had stated in my election brochures.
These matters include opposition to increases in council allowances and salaries of full-time councillor positions, making the Green Waste Collection Bin optional rather than compulsory, the capping and reduction of council rates, opposition to all Sister Cities and overseas trips by councillors and council officers, including a free community bus service in Casey and other related priority issues.
Paul Richardson,
Four Oaks Ward councillor,
Endeavour Hills.
I REFER to my letter (News, 10 September) regarding the Baringa Park Drive entry. I was grateful to see the street sign fixed so quickly and the stakes around the trees moved immediately. Thank you. The new bark around the plants gave the entry a fresh and beautiful look.
About four days after my letter, I received a call from a friendly man, who told me that he was standing in front of the Baringa Park sign and his words were: “You’re so right, it looks very messy and overgrown” but “leave it up to me…”. That was two and a half months ago. Nothing’s happened.
Maybe this man can make the Baringa Park sign readable and cut the bushes from the Springfield sign too, because it has started to overgrow too.
Thank you for the good and quick work again and I hope the Baringa Park and Springfield entry will look amazing again.
Regina Wittke,
Narre Warren South.
