Victoria's current Premier Napthine ('Napthalene') isn't satisfied with trampling on public opinion by going ahead with the latest encouragement to Melbourne's grid-locked road system (ie the 'East-west tunnel link' project) ... but, the next piece of bastardry on the horizon is likely to be an intent to turn Hastings, situated in Victoria's Westernport bay, into 'Australia's major container terminal'.
This in a relatively shallow harbour which is currently a world famous marine and wetlands paradise. It may be of passing interest to readers in oher states that WP bay also surrounds Phillip island, a renowned tourist destination with the daily 'Little Penguin parade' as its head-line (but not only) attraction. Not only does the massive dredging necessary to accommodate giant container ships spell ecological danger for bay wildlife ... recent modelling of accidental oil-spill spread patterns in conditions common to the area has shown that even a modest spill of heavy fuel oil from the area of the proposed Hastings port would penetrate sensitive conservation areas within HOURS ... and, thus be practically impossible to stem before causing massive damage to the natural environment and heritage-proclaimed elements of it.
Just another potential white elephant like the massively expensive DeSal plant which virtually stands idle whilst adding enormous expense to water rate-payers in contract fees which will go on well into the adult-hood of my yet to reach teen-aged grand-daughters! The incumbent Tory government led by 'Napthelene' blames the former ALP administration for the giant blunder ... hoping that people like me will have forgotten that the DeSal plant was originally floated as an election promise by the 'Liberal' party in opposition, rejected by the public at the polls ... but later stupidly adopted and implemented by the ALP. Which, in turn, caused them to be thrown out of power!
And, some people wonder why I get so frustrated by the appalling quality of political leadership in this nation! And particularly, the arrogant dismissal of public opinion once their snouts are firmly in the trough!
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