These collections form an extremely valuable part of Bendigo's social, economic, clinical, industrial and overall community history and must be preserved for present and future generations.

The NDSNGA welcomes the recent "Strategic Report on Greater Bendigo's Historical Artefacts" commissioned by the City of Greater Bendigo Council and trust that all recommendations will be adopted and acted on in a timely manner.  In the past reports on the question of a Bendigo museum have been shelved, despite strong community support including as expressed in local newspapers over the past forty years.

There seems to have been a general and longstanding lack of commitment and enthusiasm from the council to robustly pursue this issue. Many of the existing collections of historical artefacts are currently stored in conditions of a completely unsuitable nature.   

There has been discussion lately in relation to possible premises for a Bendigo Museum including in an article in the Bendigo Advertiser's Down the Mall column by Wayne Gregson.  The suitability of utilizing one of our historic buildings versus a purpose designed facility is one of the many issues that should be explored in accordance with Recommendation 4 of the Strategic Report –  to commission a comprehensive Museum Feasibility Study.

Loose arguments of excessive cost and viability are all too readily advanced by some as a convenient way of dismissing the issue.   A proper cost /benefit/design analysis based on a detailed functional brief should be undertaken by an appropriate consultancy team.

This is the level of informed enquiry required for an important project of this nature and as such would permit proper examination, consultation, decision making and then as applicable, funding approaches to Governments at State and Federal level.

The NDSNGA Committee trust that the CoGB Council will adopt all four recommendations including most importantly the feasibility study for a museum in the City of Greater Bendigo.

In an age of pressing climate change impacts, I comment opposition leader Matthew  Guy’s promise to reinstate the V-Line Service from Donald to Melbourne. 

Given that the transport sector is the fastest growing contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, public transport is an important step towards a sustainable future.

That said, diesel trains are almost as polluting as cars, and thus we should take heed from Germany and turn to PT powered by renewable energy to see any beneficial effects.

Letters to the editor guidelines: All letters must be signed and carry the name, full address and daytime telephone number(s) of the author. We will publish the writer’s name and suburb/town. Letters should be no more than 250 words and may be edited for space, clarity and legal reasons.  Letters which are deemed inappropriate will not be published.