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Sue Pennicuik's Blog
Frankston Bypass should be abondoned
I have moved a motion in parliament that the state government should abandon plans for the construction of the Peninsula Link or Frankston Bypass and instead implement local and less costly solutions to reduce bottlenecks and congestion on existing arterial roads and upgrade public transport services in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.
Equal Love rally
Earlier today Richard Di Natale and I attended the Equal Love rally at Federation Square to support the Equal Love National Day of Action for Same-Sex Marriage. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young addressed the rally, which just about filled Fed Square, and spoke about her private member's bill - the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009, which was introduced into the Senate in June.
Demolition at Kew a travesty
I am totally dismayed to learn that the community facilities and hydrotherapy pool at the former Kew Residential Services (Kew Cottages) site have been demolished even though the developer was required to retain the pool until a replacement was built. Sadly, perfectly good and much needed disability facilities have been lost to the community for private gain. It is very upsetting.
Wearing red today in support of government schools and teachers
I have been wearing red today in support of government schools and teachers. Victoria continues to spend the least per student on government schools of all states and territories.
Burma's democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi should be released
I am very concerned about developments in Burma where the ruling junta has charged National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with breaching her home detention 'conditions' and put her on trial inside the notorious Insein Prison, where thousands of her fel
Channel deepening folly continues when it should be stopped
On 7 April, the Queen of the Netherlands arrived back from Singapore where it had been enlarged by 50 metres, presumably so it can complete channel deepening in Port Phillip Bay ahead of time, with more intensive dredging than was approved after the Environmental Effects process. This new dredging timetable has not been open to independent scientific or public scrutiny but simply decided by the PoMC and approved by the government.
Vicforests completes destruction of 600 year old tree
This photo was taken on 22 April at Brown Mountain. VicForests has completed destruction of a section of old growth at Brown Mountain that it logged in November. Radiocarbon dating revealed that the massive tree pictured here was 550 to 600 years old. Just recently it had started sprouting new growth from its stump, proving that it was still a healthy, viable tree. It could have lived many more years. What a tragedy that it and others like it are still being destroyed by state government owned VicForests!
Time to close the Gunnamatta ocean outfall
On Sunday 15 March, I attended the Clean Ocean Foundation rally at Gunnamatta. The Greens support the closure of ocean outfalls all over Australia. While 350 million litres of partially treated sewage is pumped into the ocean at Gunnamatta every day, only about 60 kilometres south-east of the outfall, the state government plans to build a monstrous, energy guzzling desalination factory that will pump water from the ocean, use huge amounts of energy and chemicals to remove salt to ‘create’ fresh water and then pump the waste from this process back into the ocean. How crazy is that? Sandringham beach erosion worsens
Recently. I was astonished to see how much beach erosion has progressed on Sandringham beach since the construction of the Southey Street rock groyne in December 2006. Some parts of the beach north of the groyne have disappeared and water is now eroding the vegetation at the base of the cliff. Sandringham beach has been transformed from one of the most intact, natural foreshore environments in Port Phillip Bay to a heavily engineered and fragmented environment that is deteriorating at an alarming rate.
Nessie Hardy honoured
My first ever speech in parliament was a 90 second member's statement in honour of Nessie Hardy, so it is fitting that my first blog post should also be about Nessie.
Last night, I attended the induction of twenty inspiring women onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. The Honour Roll celebrates the achievements and contributions of Victorian women in their communities. Nessie Hardy was inducted posthumously.
Frankston Bypass should be abondoned
I have moved a motion in parliament that the state government should abandon plans for the construction of the Peninsula Link or Frankston Bypass and instead implement local and less costly solutions to reduce bottlenecks and congestion on existing arterial roads and upgrade public transport services in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.
