Letters to the Editor - Thursday, June 11

The Buloke Times welcomes letters to the editor on issues of local interest. To submit a letter, email news@buloketimes.com

Rail Rally in Reply
(The Editor, “The Times”)
Dear Editor.– I refer to the letter published in the “Buloke Times” of June 4, under the heading of “Rail Rally” from ex-councillor Harold Flett.

Mr Flett gave a good commentary on the failure of the State Government to complete the Murray Valley Rail Standardisation Plan. What was put in his letter was absolutely correct. The Murray Basin Standardisation was not completed, even after additional funds were made available from both the State and Federal governments. The railway lines to Manangatang and Sea Lake to Dunolly remain as Broad Gauge, as does the line between Maryborough and Gheringhap (just outside Geelong.) The Standard Gauge path now goes via Ararat which adds about 189 extra kilometers to the journey to the ports.

But Mr Flett then asks the Rail Revival Alliance to “come clean” on our proposal for a passenger train, somehow assuming that the much extended path via Ararat would be part of the passenger train journey.

Let me be clear. The most direct way to Melbourne will involve a change of trains at Maryborough. A shuttle train on Standard Gauge would bring passengers from the communities along the Mildura line and they would transfer to the existing Broad Gauge service running into Melbourne via Ballarat.

The travel time from Mildura to Melbourne would be just over 8 hours or just under 4 hours from St Arnaud.

The Mildura to Maryborough shuttle has ALWAYS been the position of the Rail Revival Alliance. The proposal has been widely circulated since it was first launched six years ago. It can be downloaded from our website https://railrevival.org. Anyone wishing a paper copy of the proposal can write to me at Rail Revival Alliance cc/- Post Office, Carisbrook 3464, and I will send them a copy.

While we are highly critical of the government for not completing the standardisation of all of the lines as was originally proposed, the actual work on the Mildura line itself is of high standard and would comfortably support passenger services. Members of our group who are train drivers on this line say that it is in the best state that it has ever been in. Then it should be, the best part of one billion dollars has been spent on the line with thousands of new concrete sleepers and many thousands of tonnes of new ballast in place.

It is not unreasonable to expect that a passenger service should be put on this line. Mildura has the worst rail services of any major city in Victoria. By comparison, Warrnambool, a city smaller than Mildura, has 39 services per week. All of the residents of the North West should share in the benefits of the billion dollars that have been spent on the line.

Noel Laidlaw,
President, Rail Revival Alliance Victoria Inc.

2025/2026 Budget
(The Editor, “The Times”)
Dear Editor.– Buloke residents deserve clear and honest information about the future of our roads, our assets, and our financial stability. Since the October 2022 floods, our Shire has been relying on very large amounts of disaster funding from the State and Federal Governments to repair the enormous damage across our network. The 2025/26 Budget openly states that Council is “awaiting approval for approximately $84 million” in flood related works, and the 2026/27 Draft Budget adds another two years of major reconstruction needs.

The reality is simple: the money still hasn’t arrived.

Now the Federal Government has announced it will change the way disaster funding is allocated. No one yet knows what this means for Buloke, but it is clear the rules will be different – and possibly tougher. If the funding is delayed, reduced, or reassessed, our Shire will be left with a massive backlog of damaged roads and infrastructure that we simply cannot afford to fix on our own.

This is not a political argument. This is about safety, freight, school buses, emergency access, and the basic functioning of our community.

At the May Council meeting, Councillors approved a trip for both the Mayor and the CEO to attend the National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra. Given the situation we now face, this trip cannot be another networking exercise or photo opportunity. It must deliver real outcomes for Buloke.

This is especially important because at the June Council meeting, Councillors will adopt the 2026/27 Annual Budget – a Budget that is built around these very disasterfunding assumptions. If the funding does not come, the Budget’s foundations are at risk, and so is the Shire’s long term financial sustainability.

The Mayor and CEO are travelling at a critical moment. They must return with:
• Clear answers on how the new disaster funding model will affect Buloke.
• Firm commitments that our long delayed reconstruction funding will be approved.
• A pathway to ensure our roads and assets are restored to safe standards.
Anything less is unacceptable.

Buloke residents have been patient for four years. Our roads are deteriorating, our infrastructure backlog is growing, and our budgets have been built on funding that has not yet materialised. The community expects – and deserves – strong, effective advocacy in Canberra.

This is the moment for leadership.

This is the moment to deliver.

Yours faithfully,
Daryl Warren.

Red Shield Appeal
(The Editor, “The Times”)
Dear Editor.– It is important to take advantage of moments throughout the year to reflect; to take stock of the blessings, the successes and the positive moments in your life.

In the past couple of weeks, The Salvation Army has had the chance to reflect on the incredible spirit of generosity that pervades our Australian culture.
We saw Australia come together and dig deep for our Red Shield Appeal weekend recently. We witnessed radical kindness and support, and for that, we say an enormous thank you.

However, for the Salvos, this time of reflection must pivot into action. Our Red Shield Appeal is still aiming to raise $41 million by June 30, and we are not there yet.

What this reflection does provide us with, though, is a sense of hope for the future. The hope that we will reach our goal and, more importantly, be able to continue our vital services right across the nation.

In fact, through supporting the Salvos this year, you can literally BE the hope that others desperately need. It is the sort of hope which says to someone doing it tough, “It will be okay, we are here for you and we will help you at your point of need.”

This is the hope that the Salvos provide to someone every 17 seconds in Australia. This is what you can be a part of through the Red Shield Appeal.

In fact, our recent research illustrates exactly what these people are going through. Those coming to us for help are skipping meals daily, using public spaces to shower and eating out of rubbish bins – all because of the cost of living and how tough it is financially for so many people.

So, while we say the biggest thank you to all Australians who have given so far, we also say to those who may still be considering supporting the Red Shield Appeal to please do so. Please be the hope for someone doing it tough.

To make a tax-deductible donation to The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal, or if you need support from the Salvos, visit salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS. You can also donate at any Salvos Store.

Major Bruce Harmer,
The Salvation Army