2019 was the hottest and driest year Australia has had but in future years it will be seen as average.

Extreme climate events are increasing in frequency and severity. Temperatures are rising and rainfall patterns are changing. Less water is flowing in our rivers. Since 1910 Australia has warmed by 1.44 degrees and the world is thought to be moving to a further increase of more than 2 degrees.

MORE NEWS:

Deloitte Access Economics has costed the effect of taking no action and shown it to far exceed that of investing in renewables.

Meanwhile the policy-free federal government sails blissfully on, dreaming of a gas-led recovery.

The states and private enterprise, though, are taking control.

The ACT now uses 100 per cent renewable electricity. Victoria is to install a big battery. NSW has plans to improve grid access for clean energy. The planned Cannon-Brookes (Atlassian) solar farm and battery in NT will export power to Singapore.

The federal government is being overtaken by reality.

Bendigo 10/10 Youth Mentoring to help young people get involved

what-homes-are-open-by-appointment-around-bendigo-this-weekend

Now that the city's new council has found its way into the town hall for official introductions to the ratepayers, I would like to re-introduce them to a suggestion that I put forward recently.

And that is timed free parking in the CBD in the four-week lead-up to Christmas.

This could be the the council's first opportunity to turn the good ship Bendigo around and put her on a course that will give the business community some sense of hope for the future.

We know that officers of this council do not like the thought of free parking at any time. One officer was quoted in this newspaper recently saying that the council would not consider the proposal.

REAL ESTATE VIEW: remarkable grand home with heavenly views of sacred heart cathedral

But who is steering this ship? The councillors or the staff?

If it cost the city $220,000 in parking fees for the four weeks of December, what would be the cost of allowing the heart of the city to wither further after this disastrous pandemic year?

This is an opportunity for the new council to stamp its mark - and its foot, if necessary - and insist on helping the business community to re-invigorate the heart of Bendigo.

Many metropolitan and regional cities are already taking this simple course of action.

It can be done. There is time. All it needs is the will to make it happen.

Editor's note: A letter to the editor yesterday in the Bendigo Advertiser, headlined "In defence of horse racing", was incorrectly attributed to Michael McKenzie.

The author was in fact Peter McKenzie, of Bendigo East.

The letter did not reflect the views of Michael McKenzie, and the Advertiser apologises for any inconvenience this may have caused.