General News
11 October, 2023
EDITORIAL: Community is right to be angered
LLODDON HERALD EDITORIAL OCTOBER 5 2023 THERE is no glory when a government hides behind a smokescreen to justify its wrecking actions in contempt of a local, rural, community that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over more than half...
LLODDON HERALDEDITORIAL OCTOBER 5 2023
THERE is no glory when a government hides behind a smokescreen to justify its wrecking actions in contempt of a local, rural, community that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over more than half a century.
Local funds topping up the State Government to ensure residents across a wide district have access to a ambulance service.
That, sadly, was what played out in Inglewood over recent months when it became clear the Government was going to knock down the old ambulance station built in the 1980s by honest toil of local communities raising money for the project.
There’s asbestos, said the Government. No there’s not, said at least one tradesman who helped build the station. The Loddon Herald even put in a Freedom of Information request to get the answer, that after being asked to refine our request, we were told on Wednesday that a decision on whether to release building assessment reports would be in our hands by October 13.
All a bit late. The Government sent in wrecking equipment on Monday last week, four hours later admitting there was no asbestos. Only ever suspected, the Government said in a change of words from even two months ago when it was adamant the cancer-causing material was in the building.
By its own admission, the State Government has failed to be honest with the communities of Loddon. Any wonder there were disparaging chants through safety fences when the community asset was being crushed.
Too often in this community campaign to save the building, the Government has offered beguiling platitudes and hoped residents would lose interest, go away and the old station brought to the ground without opposition and resistance.
Local elected representatives have become the brunt of disappointment, disenchantment and anger - silence and not standing with the community has been noticed if comments made at the building site last week were any indication.
No government can think it just and proper to treat a community with such disdain and disrespect.
At the very least, the State Government has some serious explaining to do in Loddon communities for misleading them on the reason for demolition.
Or will it simply be another kick in the guts for small towns?