Letters, January 25, 2023

Cat management

IN response to Lisa Daintree’s letter “Desexing benefits” (The Courier, January 18) I again applaud Christine Pierson of C.A.T.S. sterilisation program and note that “owned and unowned” cats are part of the program.

The “unowned” cats are presumably set free in the environment (to keep other cats out) and allow them to continue their destruction of the local wildlife (including snakes which are part of the natural Australian environment and do a very good job in controlling the introduced mice and rats  for which Ms Daintree  presumably needs a cat).

Ms Daintree has highlighted the problem we have in Australia when she says if a cat is contained in a safe and cat “friendly” enclosure other cats “pour” (or did she mean paw) into the “vacuum”.

If they are pouring into the vacated spaces our wildlife including small marsupials, birds, reptiles (including snakes) do indeed have a major problem.

Now don’t get me wrong ... I like cats, but they should not be allowed free range decimating our wildlife.

Where is the proof, as Ms Daintree suggests, that a well-constructed cat run will cause “obesity, heart problems, arthritis and serious anxiety disorders”.

Perhaps “cruelty based on a false concept or on pure imagination without proven science being deplorable” as Ms Daintree states in her letter, might apply to her lack of understanding of a well constructed cat enclosure designed to keep her pet from being run over, infected by fighting the cats (pouring into the vacant space), picking up poison baits or fleas and ticks or the wrath of the home owner who objects to the cat defecating in their child’s sand pit.

Ian Westley, Mylor

Cyclist safety

THERE is a good reason why bicycles are prohibited on the freeway, and I believe there are some Hills roads which are equally unsuitable for cycling.

New road rules were introduced to provide additional protection for the cyclists, but may have inadvertently given some of them a false sense of security.

We’re seeing cyclists ride regularly on roads which a few years ago they would have thought twice about using.

Some may argue that cyclists have the right to use any road they choose, but is that entitlement worth the extra risk?

The law may be on the cyclist’s side, but laws of physics are definitely not.

K. Stachovic, Meadows

Wetland weeds

AS a ratepayer in one of the most expensively rated local councils – Mt Barker – I am appalled at the state of the jewel in the crown of Mt Barker – the Laratinga Wetlands.

This area, which is much used by locals and visited by bird-watchers from near and far, has become an ugly, weed-infested area. The lack of any noticeable maintenance has resulted in tall, thick weed growth, which has now seeded, ready for a bumper crop next spring.

Current climatic conditions have produced ideal conditions for weed growth and, in the absence of rain for some months, there has been no discernible effort to prevent these weeds from seeding. It is critical that vigorous efforts are effected as soon as is possible as further delay will be the complete ruination of this prime asset.

Val Palmer, Mt Barker

Church failure

VALE, George Pell. And so another paedophile protecting prelate enters Purgatory for his eternal punishment.

Pell joins all the other leaders of Catholicism, Anglicanism and all the world’s other religions who protected and denied all wrong-doing by their fellow priests.

The survivors of the not-so-tender lust of the likes of Gerald Francis Ridsdale, one of Australia’s worst-ever Child sex abusers, will shed no tears at Pell’s demise.

Robert McCormick

Bridgewater

Lack of care

ON Sunday at about 10am a branch of a tree dropped onto my vehicle which was heading to Meadows.

It smashed the windscreen and damaged the front end.

Thanks to the two ladies towing horse floats who stopped to see if I was okay.

Thanks to the guy travelling from Meadows who stopped to help me clear the road.

No thanks to the drivers of the vehicles traveling in the opposite direction to me at time of impact, who did not stop.

No thanks to the morons who drove through the impact area at speed through broken branches and rubbish.

What is it with our society that makes it so important to get to where you are going without any care for others.

I am okay, but had I had a passenger, it could have been very different.

Colin Stevens, Echunga

Disappointing Test

I HAVE to say the recent Test Series against the West Indies and South Africa have been very disappointing in my view.

No real contest, however, South Africa did compete a bit better than the Indies.

Apparently the ‘Proteas’ are ranked number two in the world, but certainly didn’t play like it.

You can only beat what’s in front of you, I know, but Australia have two big tours in front of them, India and England. I think this will be more of a challenge than recent times.

World cricket isn’t what it used to be regarding tests, as it’s too one-sided.

Competitions like the IPL and BBL et cetera have definitely had an impact on the longer version of the game.

Test cricket has problems.

The wicket at the Gabba wasn’t up to scratch in the first test between Australia and South Africa as it was as green as the playing arena itself.

Given the weather in 2022, it may have been difficult to prepare.

However, in Melbourne it was a batting wicket but South Africa still struggled. We need more of a contest.

This is not Australia’s fault, but the other countries need to do something for the sake of the tests.

Robert Fladrich, Murray Bridge

Australia Day

IT’S clear from the questionnaire sent out to ratepayers by one of the Adelaide Hills councillors that the Australia Day celebration day could be changed/cancelled by our council.

To me this is another woke nonsense that does nothing to unite and make Australia a better nation.

Cancelling/changing our national day of celebration does the opposite – it’s divisive and unnecessary.

Richard Barton, Bridgewater

Disappearing trees

“I HATE the sound of chainsaws in the morning” to paraphrase a famous cinema line.

I am a Hills (Stirling) resident of over 30 years and despair at the lack of control and community consultation around tree removal in our area.

Recently a couple of pine trees were removed from council land at the request of a new resident who is building a house.

Pine trees have no protections even though they may have stood for 30–50 years and provide shade and nesting sites for birds.

They do not cause harm.

They are not unsafe as they usually do not drop limbs.

Their only crime is that they are not native species which seems to be the only logic that warrants their destruction.

These particular trees were perfectly healthy yet a horticulturalist deemed it okay to remove them without needing to speak to the local residents who pay his salary.

When the decision was queried a reply came that council has no obligation to consult neighbours and the trees have no protections. In other words council officers will do what they please without consideration provided they can hide behind enough regulation.

No consideration is given to human feelings or the rights of long term residents.

Local government is supposed to be for the locals wellbeing and not an authoritarian body.

Rick Henshaw, Stirling