Park ‘padlock’ vow backflip
Sir, The Premier Jacinta Allan has reneged on her promise not to put a padlock on Victoria’s public forests, in a move that has infuriated people from far and wide. I’ve received letters from across the state, and overseas, from people frustrated by the Labor State Government’s decision to close rock-climbing routes at Mt Arapiles. Not long ago, Premier Allan addressed the Herald Sun Bush Summit in Bendigo and said: “That’s why today, I want to be very clear as premier, and as a proud country Victorian, I won’t be putting a padlock on our public forests. It’s not who I am. Its not what I believe in.”
Yet what we have seen is the complete opposite, a world class site – nature-based tourism at its best - closed without any prior engagement with the regional communities or industries that will be devastated by this decision.
Cultural heritage is put forward as the basis for this decision, yet they won’t release the documentation behind it, and this is just the tip of the mountain. Time and again we see no notice, no right of appeal, no transparency and no accountability.
Gaelle Broad. Member for Northern Victoria 
Renewable signs
Sir, Regarding Over the Fence (Loddon Herald, November 14 ) and Bradley of Boort’s  nicknames  tree signs. Perhaps next should be  RENEWABLES =  No sun, No wind, No work.
While on the topic of renewable energy is it as clean as we are lead to believe with MLA to require livestock producers to declare if stock has been grazed on pasture in a solar or wind turbine area due to worry about chemical contamination from degradation?  Are we reacting to one environmental problem by creating another? Who will be responsible for land clean up? If solar panels cause this problem what is the situation with the many homes with solar on their roof and collecting rain water for consumption. Food for thought!
Rob Moon, Yarrawalla