Letters to the Editor

I am concerned that a letter could be printed anonymously purporting to represent all residents of Cunningham Downs Village.

This is most definitely not the case.

The Independent Living Unit residents of Cunningham Downs Village are represented by a volunteer committee known as Cunningham Downs Village Residents Association.

We hold regular monthly meetings where all residents are encouraged to attend and voice their opinions openly and without prejudice.

I invite the anonymous letter writer/s to contact me personally to discuss this issue rather than hiding behind an unsigned letter to the Riv.

Bob Baker,

Cunningham Downs Village Residents Association president

Water buybacks not the only problem

Water buybacks have a socio-economic impact upon irrigation communities. So do other activities that are worse and deserve scrutiny.

First is investors and corporates. They smile with glee whenever environmental water is blamed for high prices. An El Niño dry period is perfect for higher profit margins and satisfied shareholders. A book, Sold Down the River, available in local bookstores, covers how wealth is made from the water market.

Second comes the expanding irrigation network that ensures increasing water demand. New irrigation farms are being developed and they want secure water.

The 2022 AITHER Water Markets Report details that horticulture along the Murray River currently requires 1274Gl of water. In low rainfall periods, Murray River flows are 1350Gl or less, hence reliance on what dams hold and yearly entitlement adjustments to get all water users through these periods.

Many of these plantings are still maturing, so water needs will increase to 1449Gl. The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority 2021-22 Annual Report, page 77, states, “In drier years horticulture enterprises usually outbid dairying and others for water...”.

Third is the warming climate, the proverbial elephant. Farm productivity and income declines as temperatures rise. Farming gets harder as the rainfall patterns and frequency change.

There was 20 per cent less run-off into waterways and dams prior to the 2022 unprecedented rainfall that filled irrigation dams for first time in close to 30 years.

If the warming is not brought under control the socio-economic impacts will be devastating for future generations of farmers.

Environment water buybacks cause the least socio-economic hardship on irrigation farmers, so the focus of our energy should be elsewhere. More transparency and controls on investors to limit price gouging, no new irrigation projects and real action on stopping the climate emergency will bring real benefits.

Kevin L’Huillier,

Koyuga

Help us save lives by saving the Medicare Heart Health Check

Heart disease is Australia’s leading cause of death and tragically takes the life of one Australian every 30 minutes.

The good news is, heart disease is largely preventable.

The bad news? Our best tool for heart disease prevention — the Medicare Heart Health Check — is about to expire.

We are seeking a guarantee from the Federal Government that funding will continue beyond June 30 this year.

Nearly 440,000 Australians have seen their GP for a Medicare-subsidised Heart Health Check since they were introduced.

The Heart Foundation is asking the government to invest $11.5 million per year, to continue subsidising Heart Health Checks into the future.

This is a relatively small investment compared to the $1 billion in healthcare costs that could be saved with broad uptake of Heart Health Checks in high-risk Australians and more importantly, the 67,000 heart attacks, strokes and heart disease-related deaths that could be prevented over five years.

It’s not too late for your readers to take action: I urge you to please help us save Medicare Heart Health Checks by signing our petition, writing to local MPs and sharing the petition with friends and family.

To take action, please visit www.heartfoundation.org.au/save-heart-checks

David Lloyd,

National Heart Foundation of Australia chief executive officer

State’s road network needs improvement

Since 2020-21, the Andrews Labor Government has cut the annual road asset maintenance budget by over $230 million, and the impact is clear as day to all of us who live and work in regional Victoria.

Potholes, crumbling edges and uneven surfaces are now commonplace, making travel unsafe for locals and tourists, but also add to the worries of the truck drivers who transport our essential supplies.

Putting up a rough surface sign and dropping speed limits isn’t good enough, yet all too often appears to be the solution from our city-centric Labor Government.

Tragically, we’ve already had 86 road fatalities in just the first quarter of 2023, an increase of 32 per cent on this time last year.

For the sake of those 86 people, their family and friends, and all regional road users, the Andrews Labor Government must take some responsibility and ensure that our roads are safe and well-maintained.

In the upcoming May state budget, the Nationals are calling on the Andrews Labor Government to immediately provide increased and ongoing funding for both state and locally managed roads.

The Nationals announced a policy ahead of the November state election of $1 billion every year for 10 years and the return of the successful Country Roads and Bridges Program.

I challenge the Andrews Labor Government to match it.

Anything less will only lead to further deterioration of our road network and risk more Victorian lives.

Peter Walsh MP,

Leader of The Nationals

Member for Murray Plains

OPINION POLICY

The Riverine Herald welcomes letters to the editor.

All letters must carry the writer’s name, address and telephone number for verification purposes.

Preference will be given to shorter letters emailed to editor@riverineherald.com.au or you can post it to Riverine Herald, 28 Percy St, Echuca, 3564.

The editor reserves the right to edit all letters, either for length or legal reasons, or omit letters.

The views of the letter writers don’t necessarily reflect the views of the paper.