Re: Multi-storey anger
Cr Jim Memeti says he would support a smaller residential 2 zone (Weekly, September 3). My question is what exactly is he planning to do about this and how would he go about it, when the state government seems to want to expand even further multi-storey developments in small suburban streets.
Cr John Kelly suggested having a public meeting on the issue between residents and planners. I, for one, would support such a move. I think such a meeting would involve all interested parties, including councillors, developers and members of parliament. Maybe then we might find some answers to what is a complex and sometimes vexatious issue. I would challenge both councillors to act on the suggestions they have made.
Patsy Horne, Dandenong
Re: Teen suicide: getting the message through
Having been one of the many people who viewed the There’s No 3G In Heaven documentary, in which Craig Membrey (Weekly, September 17)
featured, I was gutted to think just how common the issue of teen suicide is becoming, particularly in outer regions such as Casey and Greater Dandenong. My heart goes out to Mr Membrey, and other parents and family members who featured on this program.
While there is no quick fix, part of the problem stems from people just not knowing who to turn to when dealing with issues such as depression.
There are a number of very good support services around, and the people who work within these support networks are passionate about their work and do an excellent job. More should be done at a community level in promoting through schools the services available to young people in the local area..
The most important thing of all is remembering that every one of life’s struggles has a solution. The first step is talking to somebody you trust about how you are feeling, and then researching the youth services in your area.
Brad Woodford, Greater Dandenong Council candidate for Paperbark Ward
Re: No more pokies for poor
Greater Dandenong Council needs to work at reducing, not increasing, the number of poker machines in a municipality. Adults living in Melbourne’s poorest area, Greater Dandenong, lose more on machines than those who live in any other local government area.
For every adult who lives in Greater Dandenong, $1110 was lost on poker machines, and the median individual weekly income of residents is only $426. By contrast, in Boroondara, one of the state’s most affluent municipalities, the median individual income per week was $836 and the amount lost to pokies per adult was the lowest of any Melbourne municipality — $153 in 2010-11.
DOXA is most unwelcome in Dandenong.
Keith Donovan, Dandenong
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