Don’t go pruning
I recently pruned a tree on my nature strip, as I thought it needed a tidy up, believing pruning from time to time enhances growth and is generally good for plants and trees.
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To my surprise, I received a letter from our Wodonga Council informing me that I had no right to prune the tree on my nature strip, as it was Wodonga Council’s tree and their responsibility to manage. The letter stated that it’s an offence to interfere with council assets which includes their vegetation (ie, trees, plantings and all shrubbery) Ref local law - 1/2014 section 24 – Interfere with Council Assets.
I responded with an email expressing my surprise to the letter, as I had not tried to kill the tree or damage it, and highly recommended that the council spend more time on maintaining garden landscapes they had established in our area rather than trivialising about pruning a tree. Yet the surprises kept coming.
Several weeks later to my total amazement, the Wodonga City Council actually cut and removed the tree from my nature strip, plus all others that had been pruned in our street, leaving only very small stumps protruding from our nature strip.
The stumps have been there for several days now, meaning all they have done is created possible trip hazards for would be walkers and joggers. One has to wonder.
It’s just laughable and total hypocrisy from Wodonga Council to complain about pruning nature strip trees, yet it’s OK to destroy and remove perfectly healthy trees simply to maintain tree conformity within its streets? So be aware residents, you cannot prune nature strip trees.
Greg Young, Wodonga
Stronger, one year on
The anniversary of the YES vote for marriage equality in the plebiscite finds Australia stronger in standing up for minorities and the church on its last legs.
The million dollar investment by the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, the Ruddock report and the ‘Open Letter’ from Sydney Anglican school heads have all backfired in spectacular ways leaving the church far behind and about to be wheeled into the corner or finished.
The rainbow was one of the most popular Christian symbols but now inspires anxiety instead of hope. The YES vote was an answer to prayer from so many people of faith and signifies a kinder, more compassionate Australia. It is a source of sorrow and embarrassment that the church remains an equality free zone and much like Kodak, is looking down the barrel because of its failure to update its navigation system and interact with contemporary values. The current callout of conservatives across the world is a sign that even those most opposed to inclusion can see the writing on the wall.
Peter MacLeod-Miller, Archdeacon of Albury St Matthew's Anglican Church Albury
Degradation of our flag
It seems the newly opened Sheridan outlet store in Dean Street has a funny way of showing respect to our national flag atop their building. It is not only tattered but dangling down and most disrespectful.
I've politely spoken to their staff twice as well as emailing the company but nothing's changed. Our national flag should be flown proudly and not in the degrading way it is on top of their store.
