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THINK LOCAL AND GLOBAL
Sound management for Manningham cannot begin and end with purely local issues. Our community, like the rest of Australia and our world, is facing unprecedented and serious challenges. The solutions in many cases will depend on what we do, and how we prepare, at the local level.
GLOBAL WARMING
There is now absolutely no doubt that Global Warming - a Climate Emergency - is here.
It is serious and it is man-made: the result of our long history of intensive use of fossil fuels – oil and coal. The outcomes threaten to be catastrophic, sending Australia into permanent drought. As well, rising sea levels will affect not only all the world’s coastal cities but also displace hundreds of millions of people from low-lying regions to our immediate north. We need immediate action to replace fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions.
Council can act by:
Converting to energy-efficient street lighting. Reducing the size of the council car fleet and phasing out petrol-power in favour of electric-powered vehicles. Using electricity only from 100% renewable sources. Provision of safe bike paths for regular commuting, especially by the large number of students currently being driven to schools in Manningham. A bike link to Warrandyte High, and at Alder Reserve are two instances.
WATER SHORTAGE
 You know how serious this is. Building more dams will not help if the rainfall is not there to fill them.
Australia’s rainfall patterns are changing. Current and previous state and federal governments have left us sadly unprepared. In irrigation areas, our limited water resource has been over-allocated - and much of it has been sold into private hands . Also, logging of our pristine catchment areas in Victoria alone actually loses the equivalent of one and a half times the Maroondah dam EVERY YEAR (official Melbourne Water estimate).
What can we do in Manningham?
We can join those thirteen councils who are calling on the State government to end logging of the catchments. We can take serious measures to cleanse/reclaim stormwater in our city, and recycle water for industrial use and ground-watering. We can act to ensure water retention systems on new and existing buildings in Mannigham, including all new major projects. We can give Manningham ratepayers affordable solar hot water options through bulk purchase arrangements. As individuals and as a community we can find ways to tailor our water usage to match future availability. DESALINATION is a ‘political fix’ - not an adequate answer. This costly and energy-intensive process looks likely to increase Australia’s energy demands by 400% on current modelling.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Road transport contributes around 70 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent annually to Australia’s overall carbon emissions, with just on half that being due to passenger vehicles alone. We can substantially cut greenhouse gas emissions by investing in first-rate public transport.
We can reclaim the original vision of Melbourne as a well-designed city served by an efficient system of rail, light-rail and buses running at maximum 15 minutes intervals. This is not dreaming. It could easily be achieved if just a fraction of the money spent on freeways (now typically tollways, and in private hands) was directed to public transport infrastructure.
A fast, efficient and affordable public transport system, as a viable alternative to the car, is an essential in any city of the 21st century. This is a subject very relevant to Manningham . Refer further under local issues.
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“David Ellis is a man to whom the interaction of people and their environment matters deeply.
This, and his decisiveness, mark him as the outstanding candidate for Mullum Mullum.”
-Don Charlwood, distinguished author;
Nell Charlwood, Burgewood books.
“I have lived in Park Orchards for ten years and have known David in his professional capacity throughout that time.
I have great admiration for the interest and care that he takes and am pleased to give him my endorsement to represent our community on Manningham Council.”
- Judith Holinshed, writer, Park Orchards.
"My business interests depend upon a strong and prosperous economy. David understands the needs of business and the challenges of the future.I support David wholeheartedly and invite you to do so too."
Clare Hudson RN, RPN, B Bus
Managing Director, Atla Medical Recruitment. |
