Letters, March 1, 2023

Voice needed

IT is revealing just how mean spirited and narrow minded the ‘No’ case against the forthcoming First Nations Voice Referendum is (Christopher Collins, The Courier, February 8).

On the one hand, our entire democratic system is dismissed as being unable to compose the detailed legislation that will enact the ‘Voice to Parliament’ through democratic processes because it will be done by the ‘political class’ – that we elect!

On the other hand, those same processes are considered entirely adequate for democratic participation.

With regard to all the social ills that do need attention, it seems there is no place for a new start.

Totally ignored is the persistent lie that underpins modern Australia – the continent was not ‘Terra nullius’ (unoccupied land), as claimed by the Imperial British Crown when they took ownership for colonial settlement.

It had been occupied for 60,000 years.

Totally ignored is the generosity of the many First Nations people who formulated and endorsed the “Uluru Statement from the Heart” to allow us all, together, to formally recognise, and then correct, the lie.

This will be by a change to modern Australia’s foundation document, our Constitution, recognising the existence of those First Nations people, and according their descendants, because of their special relationship to their country, a formal ‘Voice’ to our Parliament.

But the ‘Statement’ says it so well, can be easily found online (e.g. Wikipedia), and should be read in full.

May all of Australia be generous enough to allow “Makarrata: the coming together after a struggle”, to proceed, with a ‘Yes’ vote in the Referendum.

Douglas McCarty, Wistow

Leafy suburbs

HAVING spent most of my life in the Hills I am continually astounded to reference of the ‘leafy suburbs’ as the lucky and wealthy areas to live. Why can’t tree canopy corridors be developed by residents and government across all local areas?

Now that I am living in a south coast town it appears to lack that substantial tree canopy look, maybe from the value placed on views of the water and the need to keep things simple and tidy with minimal upkeep as promoted by short stays in holiday homes.

Isn’t it time, as the world temperature and urban heat rises, that we take a wider look and promote the increasing benefits of a greener and cooler landscape?

Glen Chenoweth, Goolwa North

Too little action

UNFORTUNATELY Phil Burton’s (from the Mt Barker Council) comment that “council balances its resources across all its open space, recreation and natural areas to deliver an appropriate level of service” (Volunteers call for wetland weed management, The Courier, February 15) does not ring quite true when you take into account that the volunteers have raised the weed issue with the council since 2014 via conversations, emails and meetings.

In 2022 we saw the biggest spread of weeds yet, with little to no action taken by the council until after they had seeded. Hopefully 2023 will be different.

Kym Biddell, Mt Barker

Airline profit

IN mid-December my daughter was seconded from her job on KI to help with the riverland floods.

Doing 12 hour days for a week she returned to our house for a night, exhausted, before she flew home.

That night I gave her a small fishing rod for Christmas and put it in a small tube to stop it getting damaged (about 90cm by 6cm). At arrival at the Qantas check-in she was informed that she would have to pay $100 to transport it to KI on a half empty plane.

Congrats on your recent profit Qantas.

Anthony Petersen, Crafers West

Puzzling decision

I FIND it very puzzling that Mt Barker Council wants to supply reticulated natural gas throughout the district, considering that their Strategic Plan includes a statement that the “council can act as a community leader by reducing its emissions, using renewable energy and considering offset schemes”.

These two things are rather contradictory.

Many people in the new developments are using gas because the developers mandate connection to gas as a condition of purchase.

This isn’t giving people a greater variety of energy choices, and I’d like to see the Government intervene to stop this from happening.

Climate change indicators are everywhere; collapsing ice shelves in Antarctica, shrinking glaciers and destructive changes to weather patterns, so we are being encouraged, rightly, to avoid fossil fuels and switch to renewable electricity.

The Mt Barker Council is going backwards if they plan to introduce more gas use to the area, as that will be the inevitable outcome.

We should not be investing in infrastructure that promotes fossil fuel use, but instead provide home-owners with choice, while encouraging the uptake of renewables.

Donella Peters, Aldgate

Gas shock

AT the last Mt Barker District Council meeting on February 6 it was good to see Councillor Grosser move a motion to delete reference to provision of reticulated natural gas supply for Mt Barker.

What was more than surprising was that the motion was supported only by Crs Szilassy, Westwood, Harding and Grosser. The Motion was lost, with all other councillors voting for gas.

This was a shock to me, as not only did Mt Barker Council declare a climate emergency many years ago, and pledge to move towards a more sustainable future replacing fossil fuels at every opportunity with renewable energy, but the council is a member of Cities Power Partnership, an initiative of the Climate Council and the largest network of cities and towns tackling climate change and working towards net zero emissions for the benefit of their communities.

Even more puzzling (and ironic) when a few minutes later one of these same councillors asked what the council is doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What were they thinking?

Gas will not only be more expensive and is another ‘dirty’ fossil fuel, but investing in new infrastructure for its provision will likely result in stranded assets long term at ratepayers’ expense.

Carol Bailey, Mt Barker Springs

Tree removal

I ENJOYED reading the lead story ‘Colorful Concept’ (The Courier, February 22), where Year 4 students created a coloring book to be sold to raise funds for the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Kudos to them for showing initiative and being environmentally aware.

Hopefully, with this type of mindset, these children represent our leaders of tomorrow. If only our leaders of today can learn from them.

It is ironic that in the same issue of The Courier, was the story “Trees to be felled at winery” where 38 river red gum trees will likely be cleared to make way for a warehouse.  

In September 2022, the community lost about 30 mature trees for the construction of the Wellington Road/Heysen Boulevard roundabout.

It was reported in The Courier (February 8) that Bunnings intend to expand its facilities at Totness and plan to remove over 20 trees, including regulated and significant.

The ABC recently reported alleged illegal removal of over half a hectare of native forest near Mt Lofty Summit.

We will be losing trees with the construction of the Mt Barker freeway interchange, the number of which has yet to be confirmed.

I went to a rally last week, attended by people from across Adelaide and the Hills, including state MPs, to protest the removal of yet another tree, this time for a car park.

Why bother over one tree? This is about the fight to save our trees and environment from continual degradation.

This requires changes to the laws and legislation which are currently flawed.

This is not an argument against development.

This is about developing sensitively.

In most cases trees can be saved, by incorporating them into developments and perhaps by making some concessions to plans, but developers often prefer working with a clean slate.

Why worry over a ‘few’ trees?

Well, these are just a few stories.

This is happening across Adelaide and the Hills. We are losing shade, habitat, amenity, and liveability.

We are losing the ability to capture carbon and are facing the consequences of increased temperatures.

The significant contribution the natural environment plays in our lives should be obvious, shouldn’t it?

With the continual removal of trees and native vegetation we are threatening biodiversity. If we don’t have it, our health and future is under threat. Simple.

Julie Hockey, Mt Barker

SA’s leadership

MY husband and I were privileged to attend the recent Adelaide launch of the national ‘Yes’ campaign for constitutional recognition of Indigenous people through a Voice to Parliament.

It was a wonderful atmosphere of goodwill and hope for the future.

For those asking: ‘why was the launch in Adelaide?’, readers may not know that, historically, SA has played a key role in working for legislative justice for Aboriginal Australians.

In 1958 the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement was formed in Adelaide.

It campaigned against discriminatory legislation at state and Federal levels and worked to amend the Constitution to enable the Commonwealth Government to legislate for Aboriginal Australians.

Different laws applied in the different states and territories at that time, so there was no consistency (or fairness).

In 1967 Adelaide hosted the launch of the campaign to change the Australian Constitution:

• To enable Indigenous people to be counted as part of the population, and;

• To empower the Commonwealth to make laws for them.

Over 90% of Australians voted Yes in this referendum. It was a landmark in Australian history. Interestingly, there was no organised ‘no’ campaign, with the yes vote having bipartisan support.

In 2023, on February 23, at the SA launch of the national yes campaign, Charlie Perkin’s daughter, Rachel Perkins, acknowledged Adelaide as the place where the 1967 campaign commenced.

She reminded attendees, and all those viewing her speech online, that we are walking in the footprints of those who came before us – a vital point to remember as this campaign unfolds.

Myrana Wahlqvist, Mt Barker

Animal welfare

WITH the rollover of the sheep truck this week, why are these poor animals being transported in very hot weather?

Most of the time transported sheep are at the top level of the truck uncovered and in the full heat of the sun, or rain. The sheep deserve humane treatment for their wellbeing up to the time their life ceases. This is such animal cruelty and should be stopped immediately.

Farmers, transporters and abattoirs please show a heart. Let’s hope the State Government will address this in the review of animal treatment.

Sandy Tarrant, Hahndorf