Letters, September 21, 2022

Farewell trees
TWO of the large pines, on the corner of Onkaparinga Valley Road and West Terrace at Balhannah, have gone.
Just like a magic trick, “now you see them now you don’t”.
Now I’m not silly enough to get involved in a debate over the rightness or wrongness of this event, but I shall miss them (I understand that they are not a native species).
My wife and I are not yet locals – we’ve only been here 20 years – but I feel I can have a say.
Each morning for the vast majority of the time here I have walked to the village to get the paper plus many other times for shopping, to visit the pharmacy and the doctor and each time I have passed under these trees.
Mind you this can at times be a hazard.
When the pine nuts are ripening the local sulphur crested cockatoos can invade the tree and feed, ripping the nuts to shreds and dropping sometimes large pieces of debris onto road and path.
The mess eventually clears away, probably washed into the Onkaparinga River.
Countless thousands of birds have been fed by these trees over many years and now they will have to find another source.
The sight of hundreds in flocks wheeling above our house plus the many yellow tailed black cockatoos is a sight to behold.
Of course the screeching can be a bit intense, but it doesn’t last for long (the same cannot be said for the barking of dogs which is ever present – I know which I prefer).
Naturally there will be locals who are pleased by the loss of the trees, but I hope that the birds can find alternate feeding spots; they add to the pleasure of being in this delightful area.
Philip Bryant
Balhannah

Forgive ancestors
IN keeping with the current trend of demanding apologies for events that happened decades and, in some cases, hundreds of years ago, is Great Britain owed the following apologies from a number of countries that invaded, killed looted et cetera?
Italy – for the 400 years that the Romans were in occupation.
France – for the invasion by William the Conqueror and his Norman hordes.
Sweden – for the looting, destruction of monasteries and killing by the Vikings.
We must learn from history to avoid repeating it, but surely it is time to move on and forgive the failings of our ancestors.
Live in peace and harmony with each other, regardless of color, creed or ethnic backgrounds.
Stay safe and well.
Clive Bulmer
Forreston

Climate talk
KING Charles has indicated he will not talk about climate change and environmental matters.
As a world leader in relation to climate change and the environment  in general, these involvements by King Charles, and his obviously well researched associated comments, will be very much missed by a large number of people across the globe.
I can understand a pledge being made in relation to not talking about politics, but about climate change and the environment I find to be unnecessary and bewildering.
Brian Measday
Myrtle Bank

Power security
K. STACHOVIC’S letter (The Courier, September 14) raises very pertinent points about our future power supplies and overseas failures.
I cannot see how under Australia’s “net zero emissions” policy SA can have a reliable supply – particularly at night.
Currently on some nights SA only gets about 10% of its power from wind.
Up to 30% comes from Victoria, which gets about half its power from coal.
Their power stations are to be closed.
Yallorn in five years or sooner – if the Greens get their way.
Our other power at night comes from gas, which is also an emitter.
So presumably that has to be closed.
The “big battery” at Jamestown can only supply SA for about 15 minutes.
So am I missing something?
I think that we are in dire straights.
Time to buy my own generator I think.
But wait – that is also an emitter!
Tim Calver
Novar Gardens

Less liveable
FOR a while now Adelaide and its surrounds have enjoyed the status among the most liveable cities.
The size of Adelaide, lifestyle, closeness to beaches and hills, climate and attractive regional areas are all features.
Sadly, going on in the background, is the increasing removal of tree cover by developments and the resulting increasing urban heat, less green space and reduced ability for carbon storage because of this loss of vegetation.
One other stark negative is the lack of an efficient public transport system, factors that will jeopardise our standing as one of the most liveable cities into the future.
Glen Chenoweth
Goolwa North

Tree destruction
THE Courier (August 24) headlined an article ‘Builder at forefront of sustainability’.
Enduro Builders, with support from Springlake Communities, is constructing a ‘passive house’ using state-of-the-art design to minimise heat loss thereby maximising energy efficiency.
This is good news for both households and the environment.
Springlake’s Brett Steiner commented that “it’s very exciting that we can have someone who’s a leader in this space in SA bring the first passive house ... here into Springlake”.
“We’re always looking for ... something that’s going to be a landmark spot that surprises and delights.”
The SA Government’s Environment website contains Springlake Development’s Data Report application to clear up to 438 native trees on its Wistow development site.
A large number are majestic, healthy, eucalypts.
Many local residents are distressed at this pending destruction.
Springlake Communities has an opportunity here to be an inspiring leader, reconfiguring roads and houses to dramatically reduce large tree felling.
By adopting this approach, it would extend its vision of passive housing to embrace the surrounding natural environment with its precious, local biodiversity.
This surely will enrich residents’ daily lives by attracting a myriad of native bird species, butterflies, marsupials, and the eventual return of our beautiful under-storey of native lilies, daisies, orchids and more. Extending this approach to local wetlands within development sites will further this richness, securing the long term survival of local frogs, turtles, fish, and wetland mammals, birds and flora.
Springlake Communities might want to contact Hills Biodiversity, a group of local business people, landholders and community volunteers that work hard to increase the local native flora and fauna of our district.
By undertaking this direction, Springlake Communities would indeed be creating landmark communities that ‘surprise and delight’.
Stephanie Jarrett
Nairne