GREEN WASTE BINS
Dear editor,
Ratepaying residents should be aware of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s intention to impose a green waste bin upon all homes and units in the region (Advertiser, May). Previously, this bin was voluntary, available upon request, to allow ratepayers to separate garden organic waste from the normal household waste. It came at a cost, apart from the normal waste bin charges.
But council’s latest move by stealth, comes as an extra cost, apart from the $7 rate cost, for the weekly red bin and fortnightly yellow recycling bin, from every household. Council had no community consultation or advertised no previous notice about the council’s intention to impose this by July 11, regardless. Council insists this is an environmentally progressive move to reduce garden waste in the red bins, which, in turn, reduces the impact on council’s waste management.
Those diligent householders who mulch and compost their own garden waste, are exempt, but with compulsory photographic proof that they actually have a mulch pile active. There is a special council online form which must be completed with a photo, to avoid this compulsory impost. This is yet another move by “Big Brother” to increase rate income, in the guise of being environmentally conscious.
E. Rowe,
Marcoola.
##
NEW PM
Dear editor,
For those who still say, “But who is our new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese?”, it is worth recalling his declaration at the beginning of the election campaign: “We will look after the young, we will look after the sick, we will look after our older Australians. No one held back. No one left behind.”
Mr Albanese was inspired by his mentor and father figure, Labor legend, Tom Uren MP – a prisoner of war and environmental activist. Tom Uren would be so proud of his protégé’s success and that he remembers the lessons he passed on from his experiences as a POW on the infamous Burma-Thailand Railway.
Tom Uren lived by the values of the highly esteemed commander on the death railway, the surgeon Edward “Weary” Dunlop, whose efforts ensured many survived because he harnessed the means of the entire camp for the good of all.
Time will tell how successful our new Prime Minister is in restoring trust, respect and integrity in our elected representatives and parliament. Hopefully, he succeeds in building a better future for us all.
Robyn Deane,
Bli.
##
HISTORY COLUMN
Dear editor,
Thank you Frances Windolf for your informative columns. I am just a recent local but did know about the Coolum DPI research station at Coolum.
Like many students doing Agricultural Science at the University of Qld in those days, we would visit the research station on our trip around the South Burnett. We used to camp at the Nambour showgrounds and take day trips from there.
My memories were of many dairy farms in the hinterland, and of course, cane farms along the Maroochy River and its tributaries.
The research station did a lot of work on beef cattle production in the Wallum swampy country. Without supplementary feeding, cattle did not do well in this type of country.
Cattle may not have done well here, but holidaymakers and retirees did very well.
Rob Harpham,
Mount Coolum.
##
NEW DEBT
Dear editor,
Who’s seeing red about Australia’s $1 trillion ‘in the red’ (deficit) inheritance? How good’s an inheritance? Just asking.
Margaret Wilkie,
Peregian Beach.
##