Bike jump not needed at ‘safe’ reserve
A big “town hall” style Mornington Peninsula Shire Council consultation meeting over the proposed bike jump park in Somers took place at R W Stone Reserve on Monday 20 February.
It was a show, by the majority of attendees, of opposition to the use of the dog leash-off and walking paths area to be reduced to accommodate a mountain bike jump park.
So many of the attendees were in the seniors category and expressed the view that the area was a safe, flat, accessible and visually attractive to exercise by walking and socialising with other park users. Its changed use would detrimentally impact their ability to safely use the park for recreation.
No explanation was given by Cr David Gill and his attending council officers as to why Somers, originally listed at seventh in priority for receiving such a facility, suddenly jumped to number two, after Mount Martha. When asked if any of the other coastal villages were getting this facility there was no answer offered.
A project researched and developed at considerable cost to ratepayers, for one area of the park suddenly gets squashed into another use area with flawed community consultation. This could suggest influence by pressure groups rather than a considered and well consulted decision based on the wishes of the majority of ratepayers in Somers.
The R W Stone Reserve, as all parks and recreation sites under council management, are to provide sports and recreation facilities. At present the reserve is strong on its facilitating of sports venues and sports activity but will be weak on providing leisure and recreational spaces if this project goes ahead.
Michelle Gregory, Somers
Banish councils
As all of our coastline is Crown land surely, with three tiers of government, aren’t we over governed (“Public safety should come first” Letters 21/2/23)? Why can’t we get rid of councils throughout Australia: they are doing less and less for us, and taking more and more from us.
Wendy Doyle, Mornington
Hydrogen ‘madness’
The failure of a solenoid valve creating a small hydrogen fire on a liquid hydrogen tanker ship is a pertinent reminder of the hazards of hydrogen (“Equipment blamed for fire on hydrogen ship” The News 21/2/23).
When used in cars, this gas has to be compressed in the fuel tank to 5000 or 10,000 pounds per square inch (35 or 70 Mpa); such an enormous pressure being able to blow your head off. It has to be stored compressed or cryogenic, transported, transferred, and dispensed at a roadside bowser.
Already, system leakage losses are claimed to be in excess of 10 per cent. A couple of universities have projected the situation if the world goes to 100 per cent hydrogen fuel. Estimates are that about 60 million tonnes of this, the world’s lightest gas, would leak into the atmosphere every year.
Unlike carbon dioxide gas which is heavier than air, hydrogen would go straight to the stratosphere where our vital protective ozone layer is.
There is no doubt that hydrogen would have some reaction with the oxygen/ozone cycle that maintains this ozone barrier. The consequences or extent of reactions cannot be estimated or predicted, but there is the possibility of the ozone layer being destroyed and most of humanity dying off.
I believe automotive use of hydrogen fuel would be madness and uneconomic.
Meantime, you can bet that the brown coal-to-hydrogen project in the Latrobe Valley will proceed, producing enormous amounts of carbon dioxide. The producers will pay a carbon-offset fee to make it all green but will receive government concessions to offset the fees. These fees will go toward planting trees somewhere, while the world clears forests in Argentina, Amazon, everywhere.
Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington
Nitpicking over voice
I wish those writers nitpicking about the Indigenous voice to parliament in recent letters had heard the little preschooler say recently to an elder at the local Aboriginal gathering place, “I am sorry we took your land”. Truth will take our country forward, not old, closed hearts.
Maureen Donelly, Mornington
Climate corrections
There are two assertions that must be corrected (“Coalition cut emissions” Letters 21/2/23). Firstly, is the claim that “under the Coalition Australia cut 20 per cent from its 2005 levels of emissions”. A fact check by the Australian Associated Press found that “the majority of the reduction happened when Labor was in power”.
Secondly, is the claim that Australia’s emissions are of “no consequence”. Of the 203 countries in the European Union’s emissions database for global atmospheric research only five (China, USA, India, Russia and Japan) have emissions exceeding two per cent of the world total. The collective emissions of the other 198 countries add to approximately 40 per cent of the world total – hardly inconsequential.
As Desmund Tutu said, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
Mike McCabe, Cape Woolamai
Word play
The word “woke” has been weaponised and bastardised by the right wing (“Western benefits” Letters 15/2/23). Woke: aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues especially issues of racial and social justice, alert to racial prejudice and discrimination, the term is meant to denote an attentiveness to important issues. Adjective: Originally: well-informed, up to date. Now chiefly: alert to racial or social discrimination and injustice; frequently in stay woke. Someone who is woke is very aware of social and political unfairness.
Technically, going by the Merriam-Webster dictionary’s definition, woke means “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)”, but today we are more likely to see it being used as a stick with which to beat people who aspire to such values.
I am quite proud to be woke and progressive, guess that means I am a progressive woke (“Developing ‘progressives’” 22/02).
Not surprised in the least that the right wing is neither progressive nor woke and can only through subterfuge bastardise the terms to try to make them sound unsound.
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Letters – 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number – can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au
