BANK NONSENSE
MY WIFE and I are part-pensioners who collect coins until it builds to $200 or $300. This has been cashed at the bank and provides a little extra pocket money.
No longer. The bank we have used for almost 50 years would not exchange coin for notes, stating it was no longer policy. Instead, we had to deposit it and it would then be credited to our account late that day.
What bureaucratic nonsense and further proof that the man and woman in the street no longer count in the banking world.
This, by the way, is the same bank that earlier closed its Victoria Point branch, massively inconveniencing hundreds of locals, especially residents of the bay islands who now have to travel to Cleveland to use the overcrowded branch there.
- L. Watson, Redland Bay
A VIEW FOR THE AGES
SUNRISE over the bay from Cleveland is special. So special. As the early morning rays glistened on the water I stretched my arms out to welcome this new day.
My left arm pointed across to the tip of Moorgumpin (Moreton), my right arm down past Minjerribah (Stradbroke) and Coochiemudlo and the other islands.
This vista, all 180 degrees of it, contained no sight of any human dwellings, save for a few faint outlines of houses on Minjerribah.
It occurred to me that this is what the Quandamooka people have seen for upwards of 30,000 years.
I asked myself “where else in southern Queensland can you look back into 30,000 years of history and participate in such an unchanged majestic landscape?”.
I also asked “why would anyone even contemplate the despoliation of this unique and sacred place?”.
Shame on the mayor and councillors for letting developers loose on Toondah. I weep for what could happen to this beautiful place.
- P. Hennessy, Cleveland
CARE AT DAMS A JOKE
I HAD to laugh at the article (RCB, Sept 26) warning us to be careful at dams. Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham states “dams, lakes and weirs are a hive of activity for family recreational pursuits, such as swimming, fishing, water skiing and camping”.
If only Redland residents could pursue those activities what an even better place this would be to live.
We have seen our water security, that we ratepayers paid for years ago, handed over to the state government and the management of Leslie Harrison Dam by Seqwater is less than satisfactory.
Our dam is half empty, off limits for recreational use and the higher dam gates we were promised will not be installed.
An Seqwater newsletter states concerns about flooding downstream if the bigger gates were ever needed to be used to release water.
This is not a reason but an excuse based on the political fallout of the complex reasons why flooding occurred in Brisbane in 2011 when water needed to be released from Wivenhoe and Somerset dams and the possible compensation payouts.
We are one of the few south-east regions that do not have access to our dam for recreational pursuits which is reprehensible.
- S. Barnes, Redlands
LEARN FROM HISTORY
THERE was something approaching a tsunami for governance with the result in the NSW seat of Wentworth.
The highest swing against an incumbent government was recorded with Kerryn Phelps’ victory over the Liberal candidate.
Most commentators have missed the mark. The message is that electors have had a gut full. The behaviour of the coalition has been nothing short of disgraceful.
Most of the right wing commentariat has tried to blame former PM Malcolm Turnbull, while left leaning media have played down the decline in the Greens vote.
There is another grouping predicting a wave of independents will assume the balance of power at the next election. They should be careful what they wish for.
Experience with a significant cross bench of Senate independents has made governance almost impossible for either side.
It is impossible for a disparate group of MPs to deal with weighty issues like the economy, environment, health and defence.
The ALP went through its own internal battles in the Rudd-Gillard eras but has since had five years of stability.
Surely their conservative opponents are not that pigheaded as to not take a leaf out of their opponents’ history?
- T. Gilson, Lamb Island
BATTING FOR WILDLIFE
FOR about 12 years, I have watched the flying-fox roost referred to (RCB , Sept 26).
It is one of the best bird watching sites on Macleay Island. Usually there are between 20 and several hundred black flying foxes, with a smaller number of grey-headed bats.
Earlier this year after rain, there was a prolific flowering of native trees. This produced an extraordinary amount of blossom.
A long-time resident told me it was unprecedented. For several months, the island was a magical place, attracting large influxes of honey eaters and parrots from the mainland. These included the first known records for the island of the pretty musk lorikeet.
There were also large numbers of flying-foxes and the bushland around the roost became a spectacular sight along with its nesting spoonbills, egrets, ducks and ibis.
The bat invasion is gone and it lasted only as long as the blossoms.
I saw several versions of the petition your article mentioned. The problem is there was misinformation about flying-foxes, which incited people, and the request for their killing. Sometimes, to live alongside native animals, one just needs patience.
- G. Ingram, Macleay Island
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