Letters, August 30, 2023

Driver ‘entrapment’

In reference to the front page article by Lous Mayfield, titled ‘Camera action’ (The Courier, August 16).

I incurred a $1654 fine and nine driver demerit points.

If you exceed a speed limit by 40-plus km/h you anticipate a feeling of danger.

At 4am on June 6 there was nothing to heighten concern of danger/risk to myself or others. I did not see any workers/obstructions or any signage telling me to reduce speed.

Yet, I had seriously broken the law.  

The other player, our Road Safety Specialists, had perceived that the intended maintenance work justified a reduction in the speed limit.

Unfortunately, this justifiable safety consideration became a driver entrapment hazard.

When the efficacy of the assigned penalties was challenged, the authority quickly ‘justified’ the temporary Crafers speed camera limit – I suggest from a bureaucratic and not a comprehensive road safety viewpoint.

The key questions remain: was the road signage adequate; and was the need to reduce speed in this area by 30% on an extended 24-hour basis justified.

The enforcement of penalties for any activity that was not knowingly committed and whose legal fairness is doubtful is troubling. Fairness requires the authority to accept the implementation was flawed, and reconsider penalties.

The impacted public live in the Hills/Kavel electorate. So we are reliant upon Dan Cregan to get justice.

Over to you Dan.

Neville Conn, Mt Barker

Police grey area

I find it ridiculous, but unsurprising, that a new home for the police horses has yet to be decided.

It is just another component of the whole poorly-conceived positioning of the new women’s and children’s hospital.

The Malinauskas government seems determined to destroy yet another slice of our heritage parklands while still planning to redevelop the Keswick Barracks.

Surely the Keswick Barracks is an ideal place to house the police horses.

It is close to the CBD with access along existing paths through Edwards Park and it is close to the Showgrounds where extensive equestrian facilities are available.

So, why not?

Probably because it might take a bit of gloss off the massively expensive and potentially revenue-raising redevelopment plans.

Destroying parklands is easier and cheaper.

I believe that Premier Malinauskas and Minister Szakacs owe us an explanation as to why Keswick isn’t being considered as a possible new home for our much-loved police horses.

Colin Rogers, Meadows

Habitat v fire

In response to Simon Jones’ opinion on ‘Fire danger’ included in the Your View section (The Courier, August  16), to look at the big picture, it’s always not as straightforward as that.

Yes, it is sad about Hawaii, but look at the habitat that it creates right now.

God knows the Hills need to keep some trees as we humans are invading and settling in areas that were never disturbed before.

Also, isn’t this why we chose to move and live here in such a beautiful green environment? And you want to be rid of all that too.

If you are fire concerned, stay on the flats, bless you.

TD Wise, Bridgewater

Changing limits

In recent times there has been some publicity regarding motorists being fined for exceeding the speed limit in certain sections of the freeway.

As an example, I can envisage a scenario where it would be quite possible for me to enter a 90km/h speed zone a matter of 10–20 seconds before it changes to a 60km/h limit.

In this instance I would be totally unaware that the speed limit has been changed and I’m now travelling in a 60km/h zone.

I would only know of the change in speed limit when I reach the next speed limit sign.

Maybe this could explain why some motorists who have been fined would be justified in claiming that they weren’t knowingly exceeding the speed limit.

Colleen Jaensch, Strathalbyn

Priorities askew

Are we losing our sense of community in the Adelaide Hills Council?

I read in The Courier (August 16) that our council is contemplating the sale of land at the corner of Old Mt Barker Road and Wrights Road.

Years ago a resident donated that land to the then-Stirling Council for community recreation. Countless working bees and fund-raisers later the Stirling East netball and tennis clubs developed a valuable and much used asset.

What a pity our council can prioritise landscaping roundabouts at considerable expense over resurfacing and maintaining a much-used facility.

We are constantly urged to get kids off their devices and into the fresh air.

Pity the council doesn’t appreciate that advice.

Valerie Potts, Crafers

Zoo breeding

Responding to ‘Wonderful project’  (The Courier, August 23), Geof Nairn completely misses the point.

Yes, it would be wonderful if disadvantaged animals were rescued from horrible situations and given a forever home at Monarto, and not used to breed more, but this is not what is necessarily happening.

Monarto is using these animals as breeding machines, as Christine Pierson pointed out in ‘Zoo ethics’ (The Courier, August 17), and many of the babies will be traded and sold to other zoos where the conditions will not be “wonderful”.

This is not for the benefit of these animals; it is for the entertainment of our species.

These poor sentient beings are being treated like commodities for profit.  

Perhaps Mr Nairn has not understood what Monarto is doing.

Why else would it be planning to house two female elephants and one male elephant?

And even if the babies were to be kept, they will still be in a zoo; not desirable.

Lisa Daintree, Strathalbyn