Fines no deterrent to illegal dumpers
It is with mixed joy and regret that I read that the people responsible for dumping the tyres near my house had been caught.
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It is excellent that they were caught and some justice was meted out. I am, however, disgusted at the penalty that they received.
The $1820 fine that each person had to pay is on a par with what should have been paid to dump the tyres legally.
The fine is significantly less than the $5000 that it cost to have to two sites cleaned up.
Surely, if the EPA is even remotely serious, the fine should have actually had some sting to it.
I would have like to see a community service portion of the fine.
The next six months cleaning up the sides of Bendigo’s roads would have much more impact than a fine which is only just comparable to the cost of dumping the tyres legally.
Three-hundred-and-ninety-one car tyres at $6, five truck tyres at $21, 10 4x4 tyres at $10 – $2551 to dump the tyres legally or a $1820 fine to dump them illegally.
Massive disincentive to dump tyres, hey EPA?
Alan Hanson, Eaglehawk
Dismay at demonisation of Safe Schools program
I write to express my dismay at comments by Helen Leach in regard to the Safe Schools initiative (“Program not so safe”, Bendigo Advertiser, April 28).
To raise the subject of the Royal Commission into child sex abuse and equate Safe Schools with the sexual grooming of children is insulting to the many thousands of victims.
Is this an attempt to have us overlook the fact that the majority of perpetrators committed these crimes under the auspices and protection of religious-based organisations?
Denis Chapman, Golden Square
Stadium loan deal raises alarm bells
News that Bendigo Council has been asked to act as loan guarantor for Bendigo Stadium Limited for $11 million dollars is most disturbing.
More so, that the current mayor, Councillor Rod Fyffe, has been reported as stating that in addition to the $2 million council has pledged to the upgrade, “the guarantee would only apply if the project went belly-up, and our reports show that we’re more than capable of picking up the tab even if that happened”.
From experience observing the workings of Bendigo council, and the majority bloc of current councillors, I believe it is a mere formality Bendigo ratepayers will, without being given any real opportunity for community consultation, yet again, be put into the position of a huge potential debt should council become guarantor.
For Cr Rod Fyffe to say, “our reports show that we’re more than capable of picking up the tab” indicates that if council was guarantor and had to pay some, or all of the $11 million, that money would either come from revenue raised that was intended for other works or projects, or additional monies (mostly from rates) would have to be obtained.
Residents should watch the outcome of this request very closely. Warning bells should be ringing and red lights flashing.
Colin Carrington, Argyle
Hard truth of kidnapping fiasco
One thing we have learned from the failed kidnapping escapade is that the Lebanese justice system is a mirror image of Australia's – money and corruption is paramount!
Ian Sayer, Eaglehawk
Budget priorities all wrong
It is comforting to see the Treasurer tackling the plight of poor folk earning $5000 a week.