I AM pleased that at long last a planning application has been lodged with council for the Lilydale Super Clinic. However, I am bitterly disappointed it has taken three and a half years to reach this stage.
It has been reported that Evelyn MP Heather McTaggart and Labor’s Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said the clinic would be open in late 2007 – five years after it was promised.
So far, all we have had is photo opportunity after photo opportunity and announcement after re-announcement, but we could be waiting a long time yet as works cannot start until all planning, parking and access issues have been resolved.
Unless the application is going to be fast-tracked by a compliant council, we could be waiting until 2008.
In the meantime, more than 4000 patients from this region are waiting for dental services.
At present, it takes a minimum of three years and nine months to get a new set of dentures and there is an 18-month waiting list if a dental check-up finds broken or decaying teeth.
This means our long-suffering senior citizens and patients requiring basic dental care will have to put up with ill-fitting, worn out dentures and bad teeth for a long time yet.
It is a disgrace the Bracks Government’s incompetence and mismanagement of the health system is leading to such long waits for basic health and dental services.
The Bracks Government says the clinic will supply a range of “public health services, providing specialist treatment and support for people with complex medical conditions”.
Will this include extra dental services or faster access to help for carers of mental health patients?
When will we be told what services the $15 million overdue super-clinic will provide?
Christine Fyffe
Liberal candidate for Evelyn
Terrific people
I WOULD like to thank the two Good Samaritans who stopped to help me on Monday 15 May.
My car became bogged on Mt Riddell Road in Healesville on my way home when I stopped for my new puppy.
People did drive past but one woman in a four wheel drive stopped and we discussed how she could help me. She the suggested I flag down the next male driver, which I did.
The woman only drove off when she saw I would be okay. The male driver was carrying a load to the tip but he found some rope in his vehicle got under my car to secure the rope as a tow and got me out. I do not know the names of my rescuers, but what terrific people they were. They made my day, so I publicly thank them for getting me out of a difficult situation.
Val James
Healesville
Just touching
the surface
SEYMOUR MP Ben Hardman has made an incredible statement. He admits he has known about the unacceptable conditions at Kinglake West Primary school for 10 years but has so far failed to provide any real improvements.
Mr Hardman also admits that during the last seven years he has helped just five to maybe seven primary schools and just one secondary school obtain additional funding.
What about the other 26 primary schools and five secondary schools in the Seymour electorate?
My volunteer work on the board of the Central Ranges Local Learning Employment Network has brought me into contact with people working in the education sector. Many have commented that the school buildings and facilities in Seymour were among the worst in Victoria.
This should not be the case! The Bracks Government has record amounts of money flowing in from GST, speeding fines and increased fees, fines, charges and taxes to spend on vital education services.
Instead Mr Hardman is happy for his Government to waste this money on $80 million advertising campaigns.
Why isn’t Ben Hardman fighting for this money to be spent on education in Seymour?
Our children deserve the best possible education and facilities and Seymour deserves better.
Mike Dalmau
Liberal candidate for Seymour
I WRITE in response to the letter by Labor Central Highlands MP Robert Mitchell titled Talking Tourism Down (Mail, 28 March).
It amazes me that a person like Mr Mitchell, who has been unable to convince his own ALP colleagues that he should remain a member of parliament, now attempts to convince the public that the Labor government has done a good job in tourism.
No amount of spin and rhetoric can hide the fact that visitor numbers have decreased over the past five years.
No amount of glossy pamphlets will change the fact that certain tourist operators are hurting and no amount of rhetoric will correct the seven years of lost opportunities in tourism under this government.
I will make it clear that there will be no funding cuts in tourism under a Liberal Government. This is new money and once we eliminate $584 million of wasteful government spending on consultants and spin doctors, there will be more services and tax relief for the people of Victoria.
If Mr Mitchell is a member of Labor’s tourism committee, I now understand why this government has no vision and no new plans for tourism in Victoria.
Perhaps Mr Mitchell should speak to local councils and tourist operators and not just rely on the “set notes” issued to all Labor MPs from the Minister’s office.
Currently we have a reactive centralised government that is out of touch.
They have ignored second and third-tier tourism enterprises, they have a bureaucracy that tells the industry what they should do and a government that relies on taxpayer-funded advertising to tell people how good they are.
Victorians deserve better!
Nicholas Kotsiras MP
Opposition Spokesperson for Tourism
IT HAS been an inspiring start to the year.
Thousands of Red Cross volunteers gave countless hours in difficult conditions to support emergency services volunteers and the communities devastated by the bushfires that swept throughout large swathes of Victoria in January.
Then, shortly after, a number of them joined thousands of other Red Cross volunteers in turning their attention to Red Cross Calling, held from Monday, 13 February, to Monday, 13 March.
They – along with community groups and schools – collected at intersections, knocked on doors or organised events to support the organisation’s major annual appeal for funds.
Their efforts, as at Friday 7 April, raised $1.506 million. The final figure won’t be known until the end of June. We’re still hoping to reach our target of $2 million and it’s not too late to make a donation – people can go on-line at www.redcross. org. au or phone 1800 811 700.
I want to thank them, as well as everyone who donated so generously, because with their help, we can continue to help vulnerable people in the community – whether it be serving a nutritious breakfast to a child who might otherwise go without, or making a daily caring call to someone who is living alone and at risk.
Red Cross Calling was brought forward in Victoria because of the Commonwealth Games.
Red Cross provided first aid at a number of sporting and public domain venues during the games (both in teams with St John’s Ambulance and stand-alone) throughout Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.
I am inspired by the selflessness of our first aid volunteers from Victoria, many who gave up their holidays to offer their services for the duration of the games.
My sincere thanks go to them, the rest of our staff and volunteers throughout the state, as well as those who support our work with your donations. Your efforts are inspiring and valued.
Richard Stone
Chairman
Australian Red Cross Victoria
