Negative energy

Mr Clive Ellis, althought seemingly agreeing with my comments on children’s safety and the dead and dying trees within an Avenue of Honour (Negative Power, News, 8 May), he wants to portray me as negative?
Mr Ellis agreed to a pedestrian crossing, which is primarily for the children and students and that took far too long to construct, but disagrees that should be supervised during school hours?
Mr Ellis is well aware that many cars leaving the supermarket turn left directly onto this crossing, as it takes one distracted driver to cause enormous grief (of which there are many that frequent this shopping precinct) his solution is that parents should be with their children at all times when crossing?
Is this a gamble parents want to take?
Mr Ellis also agrees that the mature oak trees, that make up the WWI Avenue of Honour have suffered and that to continue in this way shows complete contempt and disrespect for what these trees represent.
Mr Ellis then basically supports the two councillors and senior council staff on the grounds he has attended meetings that explain the costs involved and the time it takes for the City of Casey to do what is required? (I wonder did these same people explain the $125 million to be spent on ivory towers, overseas trips, and a “Terminator double” to advertise this council?)
Like Mr Ellis, I, too, live directly opposite the Avenue of Honour and feel extremely privileged to be able to look onto the magnificent trees.
In recent years a developer has subdivided land that directly border the trees.
During much of this time I’ve done everything possible to prevent heavy machinery, equipment, materials and the developer’s vehicles parking and working directly under these trees.
Council staff, councillors and local newspapers are well-aware of my position.
The mature oak trees directly in front of my residence are healthy and picturesque, the oak trees in front of Mr Ellis’ residence are dead and dying.
Luck or persistance? You be the judge.
Finally, the so-called “potshots” of Cr Rosalie Crestani and Cr Rafal Kaplon, the two ward councillors.
Cr Crestani (who I have never spoken to) did, in one letter, address my concern in which she remarked that she hoped the trees are healthy.
Cr Kaplon’s last conversation ended by refusing to assist, as I cause too much of a “workload”, before hanging up (that’s after eight letters, two emails, three phone calls and one face to face conversation, never returned correspondence).
However, both councillors did sign a letter just recently that states that I’m to contact the council’s call centre, not them.
If Mr Ellis wants to publicly support councillors over the protection and safety of children and students, and the security for the Avenue of Honour’s future, that’s Mr Ellis’ position, definitely not mine.
To end on a positive note, if Mr Ellis is prepared to publicly back me for a council position, in which my sole and only election platform would be to have the CEO Mike Tyler removed, along with many of the council senior staff, I am willing.
That’s the solution to many of these problems.
David McKenzie,
Narre Warren North.