A political future
Post our federal election and recent global developments, the place and role of national sovereignty, cultural identity as well as an inclusive and robust economy needs to be addressed.
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The failure of the elites – governing, intellectual, religious, fifth estate or economic – to recognise the primacy of all these major issues in the lives of the general populace will challenge our political status quo.
There is ample evidence of a growing concern that “our way of life” is changing without “our” input and this is polarising people into a concept of “us and them”, the “haves and the have-nots”.
This has never been more evident than in the outcome of the recent UK Brexit referendum, the resurgence of the votes for One Nation in Australia and the general movement in Western Democracies away from ‘ruling” political elites.
There is an increasing lack of faith in, and trust of, those who presently rule and their failure to listen to and really act on the concerns of the populace.
There is a growing disaffection with the word games/spin they use and a real desire for “plain speaking”, action on what the people want, not what the elites want.
The spread of “globalisation” has reached a point where people fear their way of life is under threat, their values and cultural identity undervalued and the future for their descendants uncertain and endangered.
Many people in Australia see threats to our society through an ever widening class gap, a disconnected and self-interested ruling class and a developing “clash of civilisations”, initiated by poorly considered and implemented immigration policies. This latter issue continues to worsen across the majority of western democracies.
National sovereignty, cultural identity and an inclusive and growing economy, where all Australians accept their responsibilities as well as their rights is what is needed.
Robert Pritchard, Tura Beach
Merimbula’s Car parking
Council is desperately trying to decide the fate of the old Merimbula library site, possibly involving its sale for development as yet another supermarket. The loss of car parking for 180 vehicles that will accompany the Woolworths development, plus parking already lost due to the bypass development, will amplify Merimbula’s parking inadequacies to crisis point, which could damage the town’s tourist-based economy.
Council’s response to the looming crisis appears totally inadequate, with the suggested use of the Berrambool Sporting Complex and another area at the southern end of Fishpen for “long-stay” parking, with “shuttle buses” to be used to ferry people to and from the town centre, to free-up short-term parking in the town centre. Why this is necessary at all, is the question.
It has been argued by myself and the (BVRRA) Ratepayers Association that council should defer the sale of the old library site and demolish the building to use the site, plus adjacent land at the rear, to provide parking for at least 140 vehicles in the short to medium term, thereby significantly reducing the impact of the loss of parking due to the Woolworths development.
The use of the old library site for long-term parking would appear worthy of consideration, given that additional parking in the town would need to be built above or below ground, at an estimated cost of $4-$5m, a cost not covered by the sale.
Given that the Woolworths development is likely to go through two Christmas periods the impacts on the town will be significant and long lasting for the traders and the tourism industry who need to be putting pressure on council not to sell the old library site given its ability to provide this much needed parking and given the economics of the sale just don’t stack up.
Council need to develop a masterplan (DCP) for the commercial area of Merimbula and identify the best place for car parking, the cost involved and what type of commercial development goes where.
Fraser Buchanan, Merimbula