Anyone concerned about over-development in their little bit of paradise should take a leaf out of the book of all those aggravated locals who were fired up about the plan to replace the 130-year-old house in Hurst Street with a "faux Neo-Georgian McMansion."
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They presented their case to The Goulburn Post`s Louise Thrower and then swamped the council with dozens of submissions which ranged from quoting Joni Mitchell`s "you don`t know what you've got till it`s gone" through highly professional depositions, to Carmen and Don Fischer`s description of the proposed house as "a behemoth in proportions of pseudo Neo-Georgian facade design."
They won. That's how it`s done.
Peter Riley, Penrith
'We are failing our elderly people'
It is improper that aged care is run as a profit seeking industry without a focus on quality care for our elderly.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has highlighted physical abuse, sexual violence, quality and quantity of food, substandard care, systematic problems, lack of accountability, and lack of transparency.
ALSO READ: Riding through the rain for a good cause
Aged care providers rake in billions of dollars in profits. Before introducing an aged care improvement levy on taxpayers, current spending needs to be focused on care. An independent pricing authority and public aged care must be part of solving this problem.
We are failing our elderly and it needs to stop. There needs to be a holistic cohesive approach rather than the piecemeal system currently in place. People who have worked their entire lives need to be provided with care, dignity, and respect.
It starts with empowerment, advocacy, and transparency. Capability needs to be increased including nurse ratios, improved pay, properly trained staff, and supercharging home care.
Many providers and workers do the best they can under trying circumstances and are propping up the system the best they can. They are angels. The profit seeking needs to end and the care put back into aged care.
Jason Shepherd, president, Goulburn Labor.
'Uneven playing field' on development
I think your readers will be amazed by this, as I was when I found out last week.
If a private person or business wants to knock down a house and rebuild it, they have to apply to council first. But the Housing Commision can do as they please, including building units with no parking spaces.
I am sure they have already done this at the corner of Kinghorne and Albert Street and most probably are doing it on Hume Street where they have knocked down a few houses.
So who makes sure they stick to the rules?
Paul Agius, Goulburn.
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