UNDERBANK PROPOSAL (Weekly, March 18)
■ Moorabool’s strategic plan identified Underbank “for future investigation’’. It does not refer to it as potential residential.
Previous councils agreed never to rezone Underbank as residential as it is not in our town’s best interests.
The site is clearly unsuitable for 400-square-metre blocks on a flood plain. It’s land that would clearly be better used for agriculture.
If Bacchus Marsh needs more residential subdivision, then there are better places that will not destroy the liveability of the place.
And why do we need more people in our beautiful valley? Our roads can’t cope now, our schools and preschools are full, services are stretched, trains are full, and the council can’t even build us a swimming pool.
PAT GRIFFIN VIA WEB
■ It’s a bit rich, Pat Griffin, for an ex-mayor to continually attack the current council on matters that are clearly a hangover from the previous administration. Let’s set the record straight, Mr Griffin. You were mayor when the controversial Underbank proposal received a green light from the council. The minutes of the meeting clearly show no objection from the mayor of the day.
As for your claims of overdevelopment, it’s implausible that the ex-mayor that presided over some of the worst development projects in Bacchus Marsh’s history should be critical of what was clearly a procedural motion in terms of council process.
NEIL DE SILVA VIA WEB
ALCOHOL VIOLENCE
■ Alcohol-fuelled violence has been a hot topic for years, but lately the public debate has shifted to the underlying Australian drinking culture at the heart of this issue.
VicHealth’s research shows drinking is seen as normal in most social situations, from funerals to children’s birthday parties, to the footy and everything in between.
So it’s not surprising we’re starting to question whether alcohol is needed to enjoy our social lives.
VicHealth thinks this conversation is an important step towards changing the alcohol culture in Victoria.
We’ve asked Victorians aged from 16 to 29 years to come up with a creative name for the point in the night when clear thinking turns into more drinking.
Go to namethatpoint.com to take part in the conversation. Anyone who votes for the top name has the chance to win $1000.
JERRIL RECHTER VICHEALTH CEO
