Newly arrived in the area Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has announced that she would like to see the population of Albury-Wodonga tripled to 375,000 people (The Border Mail, March 21). If this suggestion is to be taken seriously there are a number of important questions that Senator McKenzie needs to answer first. 1. Where is the water going to come from? Presumably from existing rivers that are currently running at historically low levels. Will the city compete with farmers for water thus driving the price up, or will it be the dwindling supply set aside for environmental watering to maintain our biodiversity? 2. Where will the land come from? Does Ms McKenzie suggest using our money to buy farmland to create the city, or does she want to carve into the remaining pockets of protected landscapes that are the last refuges for threatened species? Alternatively does she plan to introduce high-density living where we all take up one third less space than we do now? 3. Where will the waste go? We already have a problem with overflowing landfill sites that are filling up even faster now that some of our recycling is being added to landfill. 4. What will the basis of the economy be? Is there a particular industry that can sustain such a large population, or will we just (somehow) relocate an existing industry? Which industries did she have in mind? RELATED CONTENT Global warming tipping point is closer than you might think It's certainly a lot hotter than a century ago Sorry but pollies little games are fooling no one SEND US A LETTER 5. What kind of energy source did she have in mind for this new city? Her party seems committed to coal-fired power stations and not particularly keen on renewables. Does this proposal represent a departure from that or does she plan on creating a new coal-fired power station in the area? 6. Where will the people come from? Is this part of an immigration program or is she expecting a rush of tree changers? 7. Perhaps the most important question though - what's the point? Why would Australian taxpayers want to spend billions of public money to create another city? It's all very fine to toss the idea out there but if it's a half-baked thought bubble Ms McKenzie will have her work cut out winning us over. In my mind there are questions to be answered by club management over Friday's Albury Gold Cup non-event. Surely a redeveloped track can handle 23mm of rain. It was rated a good 4 for Thursday's meeting after being "lightly watered" on Wednesday. Jockeys said the track was very uneven and apparently there are five low sections holding water which suggests a problem with the base preparation. Albury trainer Mitch Beer said in The Border Mail on Saturday he was at the track at 8.30am Friday and at that time was warning his owners about racing doubts. This was before the 23mm "mid-morning" downpour. My two questions about this, did someone leave the water on over Thursday night and, is the drainage system adequate? The Border Mail reported about 6000 racegoers were at the track when racing was called off. Will these people have their entrance and marquee money refunded. The same for owners, trainers and jockeys etc. In summary it sounds like there is more to the track condition other than the 23mm of rain on Friday morning.
Newly arrived in the area Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has announced that she would like to see the population of Albury-Wodonga tripled to 375,000 people (The Border Mail, March 21). If this suggestion is to be taken seriously there are a number of important questions that Senator McKenzie needs to answer first.
1. Where is the water going to come from? Presumably from existing rivers that are currently running at historically low levels. Will the city compete with farmers for water thus driving the price up, or will it be the dwindling supply set aside for environmental watering to maintain our biodiversity?
2. Where will the land come from? Does Ms McKenzie suggest using our money to buy farmland to create the city, or does she want to carve into the remaining pockets of protected landscapes that are the last refuges for threatened species? Alternatively does she plan to introduce high-density living where we all take up one third less space than we do now?
3. Where will the waste go? We already have a problem with overflowing landfill sites that are filling up even faster now that some of our recycling is being added to landfill.
4. What will the basis of the economy be? Is there a particular industry that can sustain such a large population, or will we just (somehow) relocate an existing industry? Which industries did she have in mind?
5. What kind of energy source did she have in mind for this new city? Her party seems committed to coal-fired power stations and not particularly keen on renewables. Does this proposal represent a departure from that or does she plan on creating a new coal-fired power station in the area?
6. Where will the people come from? Is this part of an immigration program or is she expecting a rush of tree changers?
7. Perhaps the most important question though - what's the point? Why would Australian taxpayers want to spend billions of public money to create another city?
It's all very fine to toss the idea out there but if it's a half-baked thought bubble Ms McKenzie will have her work cut out winning us over.
My two questions about this, did someone leave the water on over Thursday night and, is the drainage system adequate? The Border Mail reported about 6000 racegoers were at the track when racing was called off. Will these people have their entrance and marquee money refunded. The same for owners, trainers and jockeys etc.
In summary it sounds like there is more to the track condition other than the 23mm of rain on Friday morning.
