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Melbourne CBD protests aren’t hurting the city, they’re revitalizing it

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Melbourne CBD protests aren’t hurting the city, they’re revitalizing it

Get used to it
As a young boy, I traveled to Melbourne with my parents and siblings to visit my parents’ friends who lived in the suburbs of Melbourne. As a country boy raised on a farm, I couldn’t imagine living side by side like the suburbanites did. Life in the suburbs felt claustrophobic. All these years later I have adapted, as I am sure residents of the Brighton suburbs have, to the proposed density of housing developments. In the meantime, the rest of us will have to adjust to the outraged cries of Brighton’s rich people.
Ken Rivett, Ferntree Gully

Move fast
We must not delay the construction of these mid- and high-rise buildings and stop this senseless urban expansion. Further, the higher the costs and the more expensive the transport systems. Whether it is a Labor or a Liberal government, we must act quickly. In the 1800s, wealthy people grabbed land and built their mansions while the “lower” classes struggled to survive in dilapidated shelters. The houses were soon bulldozed by the authorities, forcing the poor to build further. It is important that we look after the future by building better rail systems and tram and bus routes. At the same time, we spend money on a range of companies so that we are not dependent on one or two huge corporations.
Bruce Dudon, Woodend

Needs of the crisis
We live in a time when there is a housing crisis and releasing land and developing infrastructure in outlying suburbs is neither feasible nor affordable. And now residents of the Bay Area suburbs, where real estate prices are among the highest in the city, are protesting that apartment buildings will cause irreparable damage to their suburbs. This definitely seems like NIMBYism. We need to be more community-oriented and realistically address the needs of the current crisis.
Julie Ottobre, East Brunswick

Get up, don’t get out
Of course, Brighton’s billionaires will vent their fury at the Allan Government’s plan to share the benefits of our wonderful bayside lifestyle with a wider range of people. As Annika Smethurst writes, “Melbourne is a growing city, but remains one of the least densely populated in the world,” while “its outer edges groan under the weight of suburban sprawl” (“A Bold Housing Scheme That Could Make or Break the Prime Minister” , 21/10). The Government needs to reverse the trend of two thirds of new housing being built in these under-resourced suburbs, which are generally poorly served by public transport and infrastructure.
Kevin Burke, Sandringham

We have changed and prospered
Several years ago, Manningham Council, showing considerable foresight, designated the area around Doncaster Shopping Center as Doncaster Hill, which could be developed with high-rise residential buildings. Blocks along main roads could also be redeveloped into multi-storey apartments. Developers have taken advantage, resulting in an area that has significantly increased the housing stock in Manningham, some of which is social housing and some of which is luxury penthouses. It has everything you need, with good access to shops, the Shoppingtown bus interchange (no trains yet), CBD motorway buses and circle buses from the south-east to the north and west, as well as the Eastern Highway. This is a model for other areas of Melbourne. There is nothing to fear in the government’s announcement of 50 new areas of focus. Green Doncaster, with its large blocks, is also being transformed by townhouse development, replacing one home with two or three on the same block, meaning more homes close to amenities. It is still a great place to live with pocket parks, large parks and gardens. Greater Melbourne cannot continually expand outward – densification is part of the answer. We can’t do what we’ve always done if we want to solve the housing crisis.
Louise Clote, Doncaster

FORUM

We pay a subsidy
Reducing stamp duty is a good economic benefit. Cutting it for the sake of a privileged group is a no-no (“Stamp duty reduced on under-construction properties”, 10/21). Anyone who buys an off-plan flat, block or townhouse in the next 12 months will be able to claim stamp duty relief. The Victorian Government’s proposal does not create new wealth. It redistributes wealth to a select group purchasing the apartment. Governments rarely explain where funding comes from. In this case it comes from everyone else. Some will be $28,000 more. The rest will be poorer.
Peter Fenwick, East Melbourne

Be careful
Here are a few words of warning for those who are tempted to buy apartments under construction: the difference in the expected and actual quality of the final finishing; limited recourse to the developer in the event of a dispute when purchasing real estate from the developer; complex contracts and uncertain completion dates; Potential problems in obtaining financing if costs decrease due to market forces or completion dates change.
These are just some of the pitfalls outlined in the government’s “Buying a Plan” article on the Consumer Affairs website.
Margaret Summers, Carnegie

Does he have any regrets?
Looking back from an older person’s perspective on the writings of our younger selves can often lead to cringe moments. I wonder what our King now thinks of his words to Sir John Kerr after Gough Whitlam’s sacking: “Please don’t lose heart,” Prince Charles, 27, reportedly wrote. “What you did last year was the right thing and the brave thing… I hope you’re not too worried about this kind of demonstration and nonsense…” Gough lost the 1975 election, but 43 percent of the electorate voted for him, and most of us Seething with anger.
I think Charles Snr is one of our finest royals, especially given his environmental record and his even-handed approach to Australian republicanism. But I would really like to know what he thinks now about his friendly support of John Kerr then.
Peter McCarthy, Mentone

Hmmm, that’s motivation
Congratulations to Jenna Price (“Monarchists Ban the R-Word,” 10/21) for your thoughtful reflection on the state of the republic debate. I, for one, am very tired of monarchists who claim that the vast majority of Australians support the monarchy. I prefer Price’s view that it is more of an ambivalence about an outdated system with no compelling reason for change.
The best thing I hear about Charles is that he is a nice guy who loves Australia. These are hardly the powers that make him worthy of being the head of our state.
David Brophy, Beaumaris

Four day week
I’m not surprised that teachers want to introduce a four-day work week (“Radical shift in teaching proposed to solve staff shortages,” 10/18). They have to spend five days a week interacting with students, most of whom do not like school. I think the headache must be unbearable. As a Year 9 student I also feel tired of the 5 day school week and find that I get a lot more work done in a week when we have a bank holiday or school day.
Alix Digne, Tarneit

Fair warning
George Brandis offers a subtle warning about Chinese diplomacy in his recent opinion piece (“The King loves Australia, but his next stop will be a big one – and China will be watching,” 10/20). Like many of his balanced articles, he carefully explains a sensitive situation, keeping in mind that every word he says can be misinterpreted. Although I cannot agree with his political views, I appreciate his wisdom and foresight on international issues. His final paragraph contains a chilling warning that we should all heed.
Judith Hudson, Elwood

Changing Expectations
About the “Legal inspection of the “gas chamber” of a slaughterhouse for pigs” (Age20/10), how can there not be “there is no requirement in the Meat Industry Standard for meat processing plants to consider animal welfare”? Is this really the standard the public expects when animals are killed for food?
An Animals Australia investigation found that current practice allowed carbon dioxide concentrations to be four times higher than those known to avoid stress. It is time for Australia to explore and embrace more humane alternatives, starting with a thorough examination of overseas practices and methods.
We have a responsibility to both the animal and the public to ensure that slaughter practices comply with evolving standards that recognize the sensitivity of animals.
Ruth Weston, Leopold

AND MORE

Credit: Matt Golding

Activity Centers
NIMBY members from the People’s Republic of Brighton united in protest on Sunday. They might as well have chanted, “Millionaires united, never to be defeated.” Will the government be intimidated?
Peter Heffernan, Balaclava

Homeless people were conspicuously absent from a protest against high-rise buildings in Brighton. The same applies to caregivers and cleaners who have to commute from the outskirts of the city and beyond.
Paul Perry, Fitzroy North

NIMBY suddenly has a new meaning: Not In My Brighton Yard.
Robin Jensen, Castlemaine

Activity centers make sense, but only if attractive, quality, architect-designed high-rise buildings are planned, otherwise they will become a disastrous eyesore for us all, and residents, including myself, will strongly oppose them.
Ruja Varon, Malvern

Is the Karen meeting now called Brighton?
Craig Jory, Albury, NSW

Brighton residents complain about progress. Why am I not surprised?
Ross Ogilvy, Woodend

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Moreover
Hats off to these “two boneheaded guys” known as heroes, one of whom is still working and in his 80s (“Why Those Two Firefighters Dive Back into the City Fountain to Save the Boy,” 10/21). This story brought joy to my heart – thank you.
Leah Billim, Portarlington

John Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton and Obama were successful because they brought with them an atmosphere of positivity, hope and freedom, while Trump’s atmosphere is entirely based on fear, hatred and, of course, himself. What’s happening to this country?
Bernd Reeve, Brighton

Lydia Thorpe may not like the monarchy, but as a Member of Parliament (at least for now) she should at least show some respect.
Kim White, Mirboo North

Finally
Congratulations to Harry Coffey, against all odds you have achieved your dream of becoming a jockey and won. Your determination gives hope to many with cystic fibrosis.
Christine Hammett, Richmond

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