Need for consultation
Recently the City of Greater Bendigo released the Draft Bendigo City Centre plan 2019 for consultation . The release of the City Centre Plan, is a plan that could alter the Bendigo streetscape, commercial design of buildings and change the historical value of Bendigo .
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There appears to be limited consultation with ratepayers and the community on the impact the Draft Bendigo City Centre plan would have on Bendigo and its heritage streetscape, should it be implemented.
At this time the City of Greater Bendigo has not released the CBD heritage study as part of the consultation process , the lack of detail and definition of heritage, heritage buildings, or buildings of historical importance in the Draft Bendigo City Centre Plan is concerning.
I do not want a return to the old days of waking up on a Sunday morning being told that another historical building in Bendigo had been bulldozed without regard to its heritage value or significance. There should be a lot more public meetings held by the City of Greater Bendigo informing the public that submissions can be made to the council on the Draft City Centre Plan. Bendigo has a reputation for having significant historical and heritage buildings and significant changes to the heritage streetscape could potentially impact on the tourism industry in the CBD and irreversibly alter the historical significance of Bendigo as a city.
Allison Glanville, Bendigo
What is being done?
The recent exposure of appalling cruelty to retired racehorses raises two issues.
One is the fate of racehorses upon retirement, the other is what happens in abattoirs. The racing industry must take responsibility for the fate of retired racehorses. As they are all microchipped it should be feasible to track each horse throughout its life.
What happens in abattoirs is the other issue. While we (and our pets) eat meat abattoirs will exist. Every animal that goes through an abattoir must be treated as humanely and efficiently as possible. This will occur only when appropriate standards and transparency are enforced. This is a government responsibility.
We are fortunate to have the ABC, Animals Australia and other welfare groups who repeatedly reveal cases of animal cruelty. Our politicians need to know that we expect humane practice to be mandated and enforced. I have written to Minister David Littleproud asking how the cruelty reported on the 7.30 program was able to occur and what action is being taken to ensure it cannot be repeated.
Pat Horan, Sebastian
Thanks for your efforts
Have you been to Maiden Gully lately? You wouldn't recognise it
After many years of meetings, talks, walks and a petition we have a new footpath along in front of the business section, making it so much safer for members of the community to traverse. Also the new section of roadway along Maiden Gully Road between the Calder Highway and Patas Road, is now a joy to drive, ride or walk along. The members of the Maiden Gully Progress Association wish to sincerely thank our Ward Councillors, Alden, Emond and Fyffe and all Councillors of the City of Greater Bendigo, Bencon and contractors for a wonderful result of working together.
Kathy McDaid, Maiden Gully Progress Association
Welcome change
The Victorian Government's new workplace manslaughter laws will mean that employers including organisations and senior officers, will be held responsible for workplace deaths.
Deaths including suicide, caused by mental injuries caused in the workplace, as well as accidents caused by dangerous worksites will be covered under the legislation.
As a Workers' Compensation lawyer, the families I have represented who have lost a loved one on a worksite, will be very relieved to hear the legislation is finally in place.
In my line of work I have witnessed first-hand, the devasting effects when someone dies on a worksite as a result of unsafe work practices.
Prior to this legislation in Victoria, even companies found guilty of serious negligence would only face fines. Now, a negligent employer could face jail time of up to 20 years and fines of up to $16.5 million.
WorkSafe Victoria will investigate new offences using their powers under the Occupational Health & Safety Act to ensure perpetrators can be prosecuted.
I welcome this much needed change, as no one should lose their life to a workplace accident or become seriously unwell or injured as a result of the work they do.
Hopefully these new laws ensure employers take this responsibility seriously.
Slater and Gordon Practice Group Leader James Carlson
Australians want answers
Boris Johnson is going to send his 'Brexit' weary voters to the polls in the dark, which is quite appropriate really because nobody has the slightest idea what the hell is going on.
Back here in the land of No water, no fish, and no Government, Scomo sent us to an election in broad daylight and we still got conned. The moral of this story is, it doesn't matter one iota if you can see what you are doing or not, the level of BS is still the same.
In any democracy it is critical that the public has confidence in the decisions that are made by government. But how can you judge something that has not been made.??
Instead there has been a gradual erosion of transparency and an undermining of press freedom. The government has tried to silence dissent from individuals and organizations as well as gagging potential whistleblowers and refuses to answer questions from journos or the public, ignores its legal obligations to provide information under FOI laws and uses criminal law to intimidate people who embarrass them.
Australians expect an answer to a question especially from someone who calls himself a leader, and there in lies the problem.
Ordinary working Australians answer questions on a daily basis. What do you think PM if they adopted the same practice as you? Answer, they would get the boot.
So when the next election finally comes around why shouldn't you suffer the same fate?
If not, why not?
Ken Price, Eaglehawk
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