PROPOSED NEW SCHOOL IGNITES TRAFFIC CONCERNS FOR RESIDENTS
Dear Editor,
After reading Aaron Cordy’s article, ‘Proposed new school ignites a traffic of concerns from residents’ (5/8/2026), I must agree with Cr Stephen Threlfall’s comments on the lack of consultation to Greater Shepparton City Council. No adequate consultation was done with local residents or council. Under a new ruling brought in by the current State Government, any independent school can be rushed through. Under the guise of expediating planning for the same.
I find it unbelievable that local residents, businesses and Council were not consulted on this. Further, there is nobody that you can speak to to voice concerns on this matter, as it is exempt from being taken to VCAT or any further consultation.
I also have to agree it will be the Council that cops the backlash from the traffic chaos that will no doubt arise if it goes ahead.
How can a government department in Melbourne make such a decision affecting Shepparton residents without consultation? The planning minister Sonya Kilkenny only seems to be concerned if any planning permit is going to affect one of her investment properties. Surely there is some way that the complaints can be heard through Council.
Kind regards,
Peter Wymann
Shepparton
GLAD TO SEE NERDMANIA’S RETURN
Dear Editor,
Seven years on since it’s last appearance and NerdMania is back due to the ongoing work of fantastic locals like Jim Gow, who advocate and build a space for young people and pop-culture enthusiasts of all ages.
I am excited to be working with some legends from the local Play Pokémon community to help teach attendees to play the game, and to build a love for the game within more people in our community. Having grown up in the Pokémon community, travelling locally across Victoria and Interstate I can attest to the benefits that it has for math, comprehension, communication and strategic thinking, as well as the added social benefits.
I want to thank local business Gamers Resort their staff and owner Ben Ladson for their ongoing support of our community, and welcome everyone to pop-over and learn how to play!
Kind regards,
Rowan Farren-Parnell
Local Parent and Pokémon Judge
SMELLING GAS IN ELECTION PROMISES
Dear Editor,
In response to the article by Steve Brooks on the Liberal Party’s thoughts on Victorian gas for regional Victoria (5/8/2026), I’m not at all convinced that the Liberals have a forward thinking policy on how the future will be powered.
Fossil gas is a finite resource, as the decline of the Bass Strait gas fields clearly shows. Which untapped parts of the Victorian geology do the Liberals think still have industrial quantities of gas in them? Does finding, extracting and distributing this unknown amount of fossil gas come at no cost? Geophysical studies and drilling exploration holes cost tens to hundreds of millions, often for no result.
Fossil gas is one of Australia’s largest exports, and yet we give it away at below cost to other countries. Gas companies have charged Australians higher and higher rates for domestic consumption over past decades due to factors like diminishing supply, more favourable export returns (for east coast gas), needing to fill export contracts at the expense of domestic reserves, and increased demand due to increasing gas users. Increased costs have not been due to Labor’s ‘decade-long war on gas’, which if anything has sought to reduce demand on the resource.
A future focused Liberal energy policy would consider cost of future energy more highly than what Steve Brooks is proposing. Reducing demand on a resource is the best way to put downward price pressure in a commodity. Hoping for an increased supply from the rocks beneath our feet is a very high risk option.
Rather than a ‘mindless march’ away from gas, households can mindfully choose to substantially cut their future energy costs and environmental impact by using electricity. Shrinking domestic gas use would put downward pressure on the diminishing gas supply for those hard to electrify industrial users.
Scrapping the ban on new gas connections is 20th century thinking that clings to old technology that will add to global warming. A forward-looking energy policy would help the food industry to become more energy productive and economically efficient by embracing new technology.
Solar panels now produce the cheapest energy supply ever developed. Factory and warehouse roofs covered in panels would give food processors greater energy independence and price stability. High temperature energy storage systems now allow 24-hour steam production and high temperature industrial heat pumps can also substitute for most industrial gas heating needs.
Propping up the fossil fuel industry by ‘throwing the door open to gas exploration’ will waste hundreds of millions of dollars (ultimately claimed from the taxpayer as tax deductions) on diesel fuel intensive field work, leaving a legacy of unproduction drill holes that will ultimately only prove that there was no economically viable gas left in the ground. Just refer to the success rate of recent Otway basin gas exploration.
Come on Liberals, lift your game in the lead up to the November election and come up with some policies that look to the future, not cling to the ‘burn stuff’ mentality of the past. Our grandchildren deserve better.
Sincerely,
Dr Bruce Gill
Tatura
