INDUSTRY people, both past and present, be warned that there will be a reunion to commemorate the old Dandenong saleyard in the near future.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to present a ribbon for the supreme champion animal at the Scottish Heritage Day at the Dandenong Agricultural and Pastoral Society showgrounds last Sunday, by DAPS president Graeme Marriott.
Lo and behold, there was the old dairy and horse selling ring from the Dandenong yards that were closed in 1999.
With the help of volunteers and society members, the selling area was removed and restored to it’s full glory at the showgrounds.
The selling ring has been used by Australian Livestock and Property Agents (ALPA) for the ALPA Young Auctioneers Competition, giving some life to the complex.
That done, now I am going to turn my attention to our country roads. I will tread carefully around the condition of the roads in general, due to my position as a councillor.
What I want to talk about is the continual changes of speed limits, the money being spent on “cabling” our highways, and worker safety speed restrictions.
I am looking at this from the view point of a person who travels on many of Victorian roads, during an annual commitment of 60,000-65,000 kilometres each year.
First of all, VicRoads are currently reducing speed limits on many of our highways, connector and rural roads. While VicRoads base this on “statistics” I believe it is partially floored.
From a car, and particularly a transport point of view, the many changes are increasing travel times for all modes of transport.
However, I look at this from a personal perspective, for example, if I travel to Wodonga and back in a day, a journey of 800kms, or eight hours, my times will increase accordingly.
For transport operators, increased times mean increased costs, some of which could be passed onto producers and processors.
One particular stretch of road, between Yea and Molesworth, some 10kms, has been reduced to 80kph.
Wrest assured, I believe in road safety, but there needs to be some responsibility toward travel times too.
Second is the current road cabling projects being undertaken by VicRoads, at the cost of millions of dollars.
Not only my wife, but a friend of mine, strongly disagree with this on two grounds. First, the exorbitant cost, and second the over indulgence of this concept.
I see every day, how many times these cable systems work, potentially savings lives, but I have to agree that there appears to be an over use of them.
While these steel cables are being constructed, OH&S say workers need to be protected. I have no issue with that.
However, the regulations seem to be changing as the notification signs for speed reduction from 100kph to 80kph, 60kph, or 40kph, appear to be getting longer and longer. Currently, there are numerous places along the Princes Highway, between Pakenham and Sale, where this is happening, due to cabling and duplication works.
As the speed reduction is for safety, surely, frustrating motorists by unnecessary speed restrictions, can compound the issue, not improve it.
Bureaucracy gone mad, I think so.
I would like to hear your thoughts.