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HIGH RISE
Do we actually wish to destroy Melbourne’s suburban heritage with an inundation of high-rise buildings? (“The high-rise transformation that’s set to brush Melbourne’s suburbs”, 9/11).
Excessive rises in suburbs will radically alter the character of these suburbs. They’re ugly, steal sunshine from neighbours, create wind tunnels and impose inordinate strain on native infrastructure and companies. Melbourne doesn’t want extra individuals; we battle already with site visitors congestion and assembly fundamental companies. Nevertheless, the areas would significantly profit from elevated inhabitants and its related financial advantages.
Greenfield housing improvement would supply a extra wholesome life-style for households and youngsters would profit physiologically in contrast with being boxed up in excessive rises with restricted entry to open areas.
Neighborhood pursuits should prevail over pursuits of governments, unions and builders if Melbourne’s livability is to prevail.
Martin Newington, Aspendale
Excessive rise will overlook homes, gardens
It’s regarding to learn options from some Brighton residents {that a} proposed improvement of six to 12 storeys would don’t have any influence on current dwellings.
As a home-owner whose property extends to the Church Road retail right-of-way, I might be immediately affected; a multi-storey construction would overlook our backyard and residence. No thanks.
Lucrezia Mecca, Brighton
We solely have 4 prospects
With respect to improvement in Melbourne, there are solely 4 prospects – cease Melbourne’s inhabitants rising, increase outwards, increase upwards or increase outwards and upwards. We should determine what we would like.
Malcolm Fraser, Oakleigh South
Six storeys, how would you want 16?
It’s laborious to really feel an excessive amount of sympathy for Brighton residents going through developments of six storeys when one in every of Frankston’s most iconic row of homes is compelled to look at luxurious buildings 16 storeys-high stand up in entrance of them, blocking gentle and destroying the pure great thing about this space.
These inappropriately excessive towers can even deprive everybody on the opposite aspect of them, together with the brand new multimillion-dollar hospital, of the views of Frankston’s stunning bayside seashore. Six storeys would have been a present.
Joan Kerr, Frankston
Brighton’s singular standing
Would it not appear that the amenity of Brighton is extra vital than another suburb?
Peter Baddeley, Portland
Footscray reaches for the sky
I agree, six-story buildings in Brighton is simply incorrect. They need to be a lot taller. In Footscray, there are residential towers of as much as 30 storeys, so why ought to Brighton be an exception? Simply consider the well being advantages for the residents residing so near the bay and glorious facilities the neighbourhood has to supply.
Whereas we’re at it, why not construct some information centres there too (Centre Street is already appropriately named) because the well-heeled native residents will little question be first to learn from the monetary windfalls AI guarantees.
Mark Kennedy, Sebastopol
Brighton, come down out of your ivory tower
Why would Brighton wish to be referred to as egocentric, snobbish and uncaring? Like the remainder of us, its residents want to face up and be counted. The six- to 12-storey towers mooted for this unique suburb could possibly be was an experiment in residing greenery – ‘The Hanging Gardens of Brighton’.
Margaret Skeen, Ocean Grove
THE FORUM
Cautionary story
It’s extremely possible that Jess Wilson will probably be premier after November 28. What’s a certainty is that within the first 100 days, a forensic audit will probably be undertaken of the state’s funds and the consequence will probably be ″that the scenario is diabolical; a lot worse than we have been advised or anticipated″. It’s going to then be solemnly introduced that the deliberate spending promised within the run as much as the election must be significantly curtailed.
Why so cynical? I used to be a resident of Williamstown when Jeff Kennett was elected. He inherited main points with the state’s funds. His authorities’s response was extreme expenditure cuts throughout the board with a specific concentrate on Joan Kirner’s ALP seat of Williamstown.
One main faculty was slated for closure, the hospital was scheduled for heavy discount in companies, the department railway line from Newport was to be discontinued, and Level Gellibrand, one in every of Melbourne’s true historic websites, was to be bought for housing. All have been deliberate however fortuitously reversed when Steve Bracks grew to become premier.
My conclusion is to take guarantees by all events, significantly in the event that they require massive public funding, with a big grain of salt.
Richard Caven, Melbourne
Pesutto goals
Re ″John Pesutto tipped for frontbench return″, 9/11. The previous state Liberal chief is reported as ″hungry″ to get again in energy because the state’s deputy chief and treasurer if his celebration wins the state election.
He’s a person who led himself down a deep litigation gap, regardless of being warned, after which having pursued litigation within the Moira Deeming saga, was on the point of insolvency, nearly having to promote his household house.
Saved by a million-dollar-plus mortgage from his personal political celebration, which reluctantly lent him the cash, solely in order that they didn’t lose his parliamentary seat, and now he’s going to assist ″lead″ and take care of the state and its budgets and funds.
He, or we, should be dreaming.
Kim Kaye, Surrey Hills
One Nation protest vote
Presumably your correspondent (Letters, 9/11), whose ″long-held opinion concerning the crippling awfulness of One Nation″ was utterly confirmed by your article (″Prime One Nation official’s strip membership hyperlinks to bikie determine″, 8/11) and had by no means thought-about voting for One Nation anyway.
Those that are contemplating voting for One Nation, usually as a protest towards Labor, are unlikely to have had their minds modified by such disclosures.
Tony O’Brien, South Melbourne
Some regulation and order
Till not too long ago, I assumed One Nation lived hire free within the heads of the media, nevertheless current revelations of legal exercise each confirmed and alleged by candidates makes a mockery of their regulation and order insurance policies. Victorian electors deserve higher
Denis Evans, Coburg
Categorical to airport
As your Letters’ correspondent explains, (″Take the Tulla″ 9/11), the preliminary planning of the Tullamarine Freeway was a daring but easy undertaking that included an elevated, two-way practice line down the center of the roads.
The purpose was to get to the airport from the CBD as rapidly as attainable. It had nothing to do with looping round suburbs to choose up some further airport passengers and, within the course of, including to the time the journey took to make.
For the reason that ‘Tulla’ opened in 1970, nice advances have been made in heavy engineering expertise. It could take little or no time to construct off-site all the cantilevered sections, set up them and have the undertaking completed because it was envisioned over half a century in the past.
The mess we’re in in the intervening time involving the Large Construct tasks is now a mish-mash of varied visions, usually competing with each other, and costing us taxpayers an insane sum of money .
Peter Dodds, Montmorency
No specific to airport
Suggesting the airport rail be constructed down the centre of the Tullamarine Freeway can solely be described as naive (Letters, ″Take the Tulla″, 9/11). Other than these catching the practice, presumably at Southern Cross, there can be no alternative for others to board. End result – low patronage and future bulletins that the road isn’t viable.
Look to Sydney, the place the rail line is a part of a suburban line.
Denise Chadwick, Troopers Hill
We want inexperienced
Amid the clamour of election pitches and cost-of-living nervousness, it was good to learn Henrietta Prepare dinner’s article, ″Medical doctors eager to prescribe a good dose of contemporary air and nature″, (9/11).
Whereas the information is patchy, anecdotal proof of improved wellbeing from experiencing nature is loud and clear. Many psychological and bodily advantages have been documented. Even hospital sufferers with a view of inexperienced area profit.
In Japanese, there may be an expression, ‘shakkei’, which refers back to the ‘borrowed panorama’.
Because the blocks in our suburb are being steadily reworked from backyard villas to mansions with pocket patches of turf and some crops, I’m grateful for the gorgeous, residual timber of our neighbours. To awake to birdcall and watch the seasons go through backyard element is a good pleasure, in addition to figuring out that inexperienced area, and timber particularly, are helping to fight the city warmth island impact.
I’m grateful that Boroondara council not too long ago launched the Greenways Connecting Paths plan to boost alternatives for strolling, biking and working. Our wellbeing linked to nature and our surroundings, a easy counter to the stress of financial pressures and political uncertainty.
Jennie Stuart, Balwyn
Spectacular studying
Incisive article from Maureen Dowd (9/11) eviscerating Trump and his acolytes. Crony capitalism at its core!
Greg Curtin, Nunawading
ANZ’s transfer
The ANZ 2026 annual report reveals that as one in every of ‘massive 4’ banks standing which may have funded the Beetaloo Basin fuel pipeline to the east coast, has undertaken to ″circuitously finance … new midstream infrastructure devoted solely to new upstream oil and fuel tasks (resembling new transmission pipelines).″ This has been the ask of a months-long nationwide marketing campaign from many local weather motion teams. It’s fantastic information.
Lesley Walker, Northcote
Labor’s well being imaginative and prescient misplaced
While the intense co-payments of some non-GP specialists could should be addressed by capping Medicare charges and different measures, the primary downside for many sufferers is the dearth of well timed entry to publicly funded outpatient clinics and public hospital inpatient stays.
Beforehand, though there have been modest delays in getting entry, Labor governments did present sufficient funding which ensured outpatient entry in nearly all specialties and shorter ready instances for entry to inpatient companies.
State governments are refusing to fund sufficient outpatient companies in public hospitals, and it might appear well timed to think about federal authorities funding for such companies to make sure that those that don’t have any explicit want for personal companies might be seen in a well timed method.
Medicare was arrange for simply that function, however that imaginative and prescient seems to have been misplaced by the present Labor Celebration.
Dr Tim Woodruff, president, Medical doctors Reform Society
Who will take care of you?
Dr Janet Duke bravely makes use of her private expertise to spotlight the vital function overseas-born carers play in our well being system (Letters, ″Light affected person care″, 9/11). My mom not too long ago had the advantage of such care as she lastly reached the tip of her 96 years. Her final bed-bound days required fixed bodily consideration by a group of delicate, aged care employees who additionally gave emotional help to our grieving household. All these aged care employees have been born abroad and even the one native English speaker grew up within the UK.
As a member of the upcoming ageing ″Boomer Tsunami″ I may require help sooner or later and hope there will probably be related employees to take care of me.
Therefore, I deplore the short-sighted anti-immigration stance of some vocal politicians. Our society can’t present sufficient employees to meet many very important jobs and this this knee-jerk response to a fancy downside can solely result in future misery.
I hope voters in upcoming elections keep away from utilizing the poll field as a way of unthought by way of protest.
Dr Jenny Dowd, Ivanhoe East
Ball-tamper custom
Thank goodness Geoff Lawson has spoken up (″I don’t know a bowler who hasn’t licked, flicked, scratched or slobbered on a cricket ball″, 9/11).
It doesn’t matter whether or not you employ sandpaper, bottle tops or apply chewed up Murray Mints to 1 aspect of the ball, the specified finish result’s to supply unnatural reverse swing. This has been the follow of quick bowlers for 50 years.
John Uren, Blackburn
Life classes
Monday’s Letters to the Editor (9/11) have jogged my memory of three life classes: respect, kindness and care. Thanks, letter writers.
Cheryl Williams, Doncaster
And classes learnt
I think about myself fortunate to have been born within the mid-Nineteen Forties and to have been introduced up by hard-working individuals who have been smart with cash.
My mom made all of my garments, at first on a toy stitching machine. And when the elastic on my underpants failed, I grew to become used to coping with my falling lingerie.
So, I can deal with spending little. Being vegetarian, and never hooked on espresso and tattoos, helps. So too, do my main considerations, the atmosphere and social cohesion.
Virginia Heller, St Kilda East
AND ANOTHER THING
Cage fights
Is Donald Trump ghost-writing Jess Wilson’s coverage bulletins? Selling UFC’s cage preventing occasions is straight out of his playbook. What’s subsequent? Holding UFC occasions on the steps of Parliament Home?
Bruce Prosser, Balwyn North
So Wilson desires to get UFC to Melbourne. The Romans at all times needed ’bread and circuses together with the gladiatorial and different combats within the Colosseum. Haven’t we progressed to extra civilised sports activities? Or is Trump’s type following Nero and Caligula to be delivered to Victoria?
John Crossley, Clayton
Would it not assist if Victorian voters pretended that Pauline Hanson is on the poll?
Hans Paas, Castlemaine
Victorians! Vote like Gina is on high of the poll paper!
Luise Mock, Tawonga South
When voters assume that politics is about every day life and politicians assume that every day life is about politics, thoughts the hole!
Jim Pilmer, Burwood
Jess Wilson in a faux boxing train despatched the incorrect message to potential voters. Selling violence is not going to win considering adults.
Helen Hayward, Wonthaggi
Moreover
Re: ″Nature as drugs. Why GPs are writing medical scripts for contemporary air″, 9/11. Who would have thought that nature could possibly be therapeutic? Dangle on – 80,000 years of steady tradition immersed in and in tune with nature. Perhaps we should always start to pay attention.
Anna Hayman-Arif, Ringwood East
Musk’s Cybertruck monstrosity is coming to an finish – there’s a motoring God.
Ian Macdonald, Traralgon
Lastly
I’m so relieved the Liberal Celebration has promised extra hearth vehicles. We’ll want each one in every of them if the Liberals proceed to disregard the existential risk of world warming. Let’s hope we’ll nonetheless have sufficient water to fill the vehicles!
Susan Cranage, Malvern East
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