‘Joint vision’ on display
I refer to Scott Ramsay's letter "Lack of vision in planning" suggesting that Napier Street should be upgraded as part of the current project with tram lines.
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I was a volunteer member of the community consultative committee for the Napier Street upgrade project and also on the minister's Bendigo Metro Rail Taskforce two years ago, both representing the community.
There is an existing heavy rail line running only 150 metres parallel to Napier Street and in the future some additional Bendigo Metro Rail stations are proposed. VicRoads is also funding a study working with Bike Bendigo as to how a protected bike lane network could be provided in this northern area.
These measures (when implemented) combined with improved frequency of buses (which will in the future be silent electric/hydrogen powered) can very conveniently and efficiently service transport needs in this area.
I would contend that VicRoads, council, government, Bike Bendigo and community are working collaboratively on a joint vision for the future for moving people up and down the Napier Street corridor.
Chris Corr, Bike Bendigo
Profit drives breeders
The nine-year ban on owning dogs imposed on an irresponsible backyard breeder in Bendigo court this month should act as a reminder that far more companion animals are being born than can be homed.
Result: misery. This particular breeder had kept the dogs in what the inspector described as “appalling conditions”, including some without water.
After the dogs were seized, the breeder shamelessly announced she would buy land at Bridgewater to build a new breeding farm.
Around a quarter of a million companion animals are put to death each year in Australia because of overbreeding and failure to desex.
The overbreeding has only one motive: profit. It's time that the governments cracked down on backyard breeders and legislated to make desexing mandatory.
If you have room in your life for a companion animal, please adopt one (or more) from a rescue organisation or a pound, rather than paying a puppy farm and thereby denying a home to an animal who really needs one.
Laura Weyman-Jones, PETA
Costly NBN service dropout
Following previous letters, I am still experiencing NBN dropouts and loss of home phone. There has not been any answers or communication from Telstra or NBN.
I must confess that the dropouts have reduced in the last week and that they are not as long in restarting. I was alarmed last week as to the safety factor of NBN dropping out and the loss of home phone.
I had an appointment with Bendigo Health last Tuesday related to cataract surgery of my left eye at 2.00pm.
Being advised not to drive myself, I booked a taxi for 1.30pm for transport to the hospital.
During the booking, I was not aware that the NBN had dropped out and part of the message relating to the time was not received by the taxi company. Result: no taxi. I had to get a nearby neighbour to drive me to the hospital, arrived late and missed my appointment. Now on waiting list again.
What alarms me is that if an NBN dropout occurs, which also has loss of phone, means that if I or anyone else is in this situation has a heart attack, stroke or very serious illness they will not be able to call an Ambulance, the result could be permanent injury or at the worst death.
I sincerely hope that this does not occur but it is a possibility. Telstra and NBN must fix this problem so that this cannot eventuate. The current situation with NBN was discussed before the roll-out and it was noted then that there would be problems with the copper. Are not people’s lives more important than dollars?