Bendigo Creek proposal is a recipe for disaster
The Bendigo Creek and its tributaries drain a highly urbanised catchment, and as such can behave in an extremely varied and reactive way to rain storms over the city.
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Obviously the creeks are no longer pristine waterways, but basically high capacity stormwater drains.
The water in the creeks can quickly rise out of the low flow channels and spread out over the adjacent banks.
The water is highly polluted with debris of all shapes and sizes, and flows at high velocity.
The idea of using these formalised creek beds as cycle paths, or indeed any activity involving the general public, must be considered unwise.
Nowhere else in the city does council encourage this type of activity within its stormwater system.
From past experience we know that people’s reactions in and around unprotected floodways is difficult to predict, and in many cases has led to tragedy.
Support for this idea is potentially endangering public safety, and steering council towards litigation of the worst possible kind.
Martin Chambers, Member of the Institution of Engineers Australia, Golden Square
Australia Day a barrier to reconciliation
The main emphasis on Australia Day since it replaced Empire Day in 1911 has been on the re-enactment of the arrival of the British on January 26th, 1788.
The very divisiveness of this date remains.
How can we ever achieve the unifying objective of one people, one destiny, one flag, whilst retaining this date?
Black Australia was written out of our history for the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th.
How can we expect them to celebrate on January 26th?
It is a date that marks the theft of country, the abduction of people, culture and led to the stolen children and deaths in custody.
A day which stands as a reminder of conquest and massacres.
If you arrive uninvited into another country and you bring military force, with the intention of using that force to impose your will, then it has to be interpreted as an invasion.
It is estimated that 2000 Europeans and 20,000 Aborigines died violently in our frontier conflict.
It is a denial of truth to call it anything but warfare.
It is not true to say we have achieved reconciliation.
We have said sorry, yes, but reconciliation only comes when we have talked and reached an understanding.
It is a process and the Australian Declaration Towards Reconciliation (Council) states “our nation must have the courage to own the truth, to heal the wounds of the past so that we can move on together at peace with ourselves”.
Seems to me we have a long way to go with recognition and truth.
Will first and second Australians ever celebrate together on Australia Day?
I, for one, won’t be celebrating.
Ray Wilson, Kangaroo Flat
Candidates knew of pay situation before election
Good on Councillor George Flack for putting his money where his mouth is and taking a pay cut, instead of a raise.
I guess this may pave the way for the chief executive officer to follow suit and take a pay cut, instead of a raise.
The point I'd make is that it's a bit rich for any councillor to complain about the pay after the election.
No one was compelled to stand for council. I think everyone knew what the pay and conditions were before October 2016.
Helen Leach, Flora Hill
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