Letters, July 12, 2023

Train bypass

RECENT discussions about the merits or otherwise of a truck bypass around the Hills have missed the main point.

It will not be a truck bypass that will reduce the number of trucks but, perhaps counter-intuitively, it‘s more likely a train bypass will achieve this goal.

There already is a high quality bypass around the Hills for trucks, the existing road from Murray Bridge through Palmer, yet many truck drivers choose not to use it.

Instead I believe what is required is a railway line running along the eastern side of the Hills, that will move freight faster through the region and on to Perth and Darwin.

The Hills, with its slow, winding train track, discourages companies from putting their freight onto a train, as it takes much longer for a train to get through the Hills and suburbs. Low tunnels also make the Hills the only section of the national rail network where containers cannot be double stacked.

This all currently makes freight train transport inefficient and more expensive than for trucks.

And then there are all of the other social benefits of taking freight trains out of the Hills, including removal of the ear piercing noise of brake squeals, reduction of bush-fire threat from hot brake parts flying into the shrubbery, and the freeing up of the line for a passenger rail service to Mt Barker.

I look forward to the day when our State Government seriously investigates this possibility, and factors it into the budget, for all of the benefits that it would provide.

Lynton Vonow, Lobethal

Roundabout solution

I totally agree with Graham Hughes (‘Lack of vision’, The Courier, June 28) about the infrastructure concerns in Mt Barker.

This problem has evolved through a lack of State Government foresight and competency – a problem that has been increasing for at least the past 15–20 years and will get a lot worse over the next 10 years.

The Rann Labor Government essentially threw Mt Barker under a bus by rezoning areas of rural land without establishing a credible policy for timely restructuring prior to the enormous ongoing development.

I have been involved in campaigning for roundabouts from the very beginning of the developments in the area and have had to continuously badger both State and local governments to encourage them to pursue the developers over their responsibilities in this regard.

Roundabouts are the only effective method of moving the large amount of traffic within Mt Barker, given that there are only two main roads (Wellington/Adelaide roads and Alexandrina Road).

The Heysen Boulevard would be the most effective manner of moving the heavy traffic direct from developments to the freeway and return, but I understand that the State Government has stated that the cost of this much-needed and expensive traffic relief will be costed through the Mt Barker Council. If this is true, it is interesting that State Government policy caused this traffic problem but they are happy to have local Government pay the substantial cost of rectifying it.

I also believe that if a catastrophe occurred within the township or around the Mt Barker area, it would be virtually impossible to get onto one of the two main roads to move toward the freeway as all roads would be jammed – who would be held responsible for that?

The Wellington/Adelaide Road, which carries a huge amount of traffic, has had no real upgrades over the past 40 or so years (with the exception of several much-needed and very belated roundabout installations).

We have to keep in mind that this road is the responsibility of the State Government and they have done virtually nothing to ensure that it can carry the traffic burden effectively from the developments that they have promoted.

It is prudent to note that Mt Barker is essentially a country town that is being turned into a small city that has been poorly structured due to mismanaged, overzealous development, together with an obvious lack of infrastructure upgrades.

Nobody resents land being made available for homes, but there is an obvious need to get the area ready for the increase in population first.

It’s not rocket science to see what is needed, but the Federal, State and local governments do not seem to think the residents deserve to be safe and comfortable in transit.

Chris Loechel, Mt Barker

Fire event for women

On Sunday at Harrogate, I spent a wonderful day sharing knowledge and learning about bushfire behavior and safety. Congratulations to the CFS who organised the gathering for women, by women.

Please look for one of these sessions, run by CFS community engagement officer Jackie Horton, it may save your life and those you love.

G. Elaine Reynolds, Harrogate

Disgraceful situation

The burning of coal and natural gas to produce energy has been proven by scientists to be a prime cause of human-induced climate change which is causing widespread misery to millions of people across the world.

Australia is the second largest exporter of coal in the world and is up with world leaders as an exporter of liquefied natural gas., Myrtle Bank

Defer turbine plan

On cold winter nights when there is no wind, SA regularly imports over 500 megawatts of primarily coal-fired power from Victoria.

This is about one third of SA’s evening power.

The spot market cost can, at times, be astronomical.

In less than three years, AGL is closing down 800 megawatts of gas-powered turbines at Torrens Island.

Gas power has approximately half the emissions of coal power.

I urge the Government to strongly encourage AGL to defer this closure.

If Torrens Island closes, SA will either have blackouts or import huge quantities of mainly ‘dirty’ (coal-fired) power from Victoria or, with the new interconnector, from NSW.

This defeats our aims of a cleaner environment in Australia.

Yes, AGL is providing a battery to replace the gas power.

But the new 250 megawatt battery will only supply power for about an hour.

Tim Calver, Novar Gardens

Agonizing death

The diabolical Felixer grooming trap, which is about to be rolled out all over Australia, exploits the cleanliness of cats by spraying them with 1080 poison that they lick off their fur.

The cats’ prolonged and agonizing deaths involve vomiting and diarrhoea, liquefaction and expulsion of internal organs through the nose and mouth, full bodied seizures and excruciating pain.

What makes it more horrific is that this cruelty is being inflicted because of the unfounded claim that cats are a major factor in the demise of Australian native wildlife.

Cats are being used as a scapegoat for human destruction of wildlife through habitat destruction and the overuse of pesticides and poisons.

Just as horrific is the fact that another native duck massacre has recently been legally committed by shooters for “sport”.

Janet Allan, Mallala

Uni motive in question

I don’t believe that Premier Peter Malinauskas’ imprudent determination to amalgamate two successful universities into a single monstrosity has anything to do with education outcomes.

I believe that it’s all about real estate.

I’m a sports fan but I have no doubt that the long-term benefits of tertiary education far outweigh the value of football festivals, golf tournaments or car races.

I see our State Government’s priorities as shallow, short-term and lacking in intellectual credence.

It is abhorrent that the leadership of our State has degenerated to such an alarming degree that their decisions could jeopardise the future of some of our smartest South Australians.

Colin Rogers, Meadows

Wildlife at peril

A nature conservation area has signs: ‘Don’t litter. Littering is a crime. Penalties apply.’

Shooting our living, beautiful wildlife should be a crime.

Waterbirds are safe from hunters now that the 2023 duck hunting season has concluded, following a ghastly massacre that has left many dead and wounded.

It is hopefully SA’s final season.

Kangaroos and wallabies across Australia are shot all year by commercial and non-commercial shooters.

Independent research (separate from the Department for Environment and Water’s aerial surveys) in our State says the commercial industry is not sustainable or viable given low population numbers in many killing zones.

Red kangaroos, western greys, eastern greys, Tamar wallabies and euro populations are too low to continue cruel exploitation.

Thanks to the efforts of macropod activists and conservationists, some sportswear companies have banned kangaroo skin for football boots in favor of animal-free synthetic materials.

There is no justification for harming and killing animal life when humane alternatives for human use and consumption are readily available on the market.

Simone Hunter, Hove

Hills university

IT’S frequently stated that Mt Barker will eventually become the second largest city in SA.

An acquaintance who recently moved here from Mt Gambier commented that the population of Mt Barker has now exceeded that of Mt Gambier.

If he is correct, then perhaps Mt Barker is very close to becoming SA’s second largest city. It’s difficult to define what such a status represents.

I firmly believe there is, or should be, more to Mt Barker than a sea of houses interspersed with supermarkets and car parks.

The city is ideally situated to serve both its community and those who reside in the vast surrounding areas of the Hills and adjoining districts, in delightful towns and villages.

It is my belief that Mt Barker, over a period of many years, will develop into a major regional centre, providing all of the services and facilities required to meet the needs and expectations of residents of the city as well as those who reside in its surrounding areas.

Hopefully the development of Mt Barker will occur logically in response to commercial, residential, industrial and local government considerations.

The recent construction of several new schools, the Mt Barker Council’s proposed development on the vacant Morphett Street site, proposed extensions to the TAFE and the proposed major additions to Mt Barker Hospital are indicative of confidence in the city’s future.

Taking into account the extent of the development Mt Barker is likely to undergo in future years and decades with its inevitable increase in traffic on the freeway, I believe that our civic leaders, including our excellent political representatives, should be considering the eventual establishment of a university upon an appropriate campus to serve Mt Barker, its surrounding areas and the Hills. With the foregoing in mind, Mt Barker Hospital will have to be upgraded to become a teaching hospital with its trainee doctors, nurses and other associated health professionals attending the local university.

This is thinking time for all who have an interest in Mt Barker and its continuing and future development.

Let us not waste it.

Robert Armstrong, Mt Barker

Injustice

WHY is it that Robodebt was used to chase welfare recipients who purportedly were overpaid?

Yet when it came to Jobkeeper, employers who made record profits during Covid-19 they were allowed to keep the public monies they were paid.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission should look into this injustice.

Richard Henshaw, Stirling