Vaccine rollout is just one of a long list of current Federal Government failings.

With local electoral boundary changes happening soon – in time for the next federal election – the Toodyay local government area, along with our Avon Valley neighbours of Gingin, Chittering, Northam and York, we will move from the federal seat of Pearce to Durack, Australia’s largest federal electorate.

Durack takes in much of WA, including large mining areas – we need to make sure we are represented by someone who will consider our beautiful valley region and its unique lifestyle on the edge of Durack.

With so many failings and a federal election likely to be called in coming months, we need to demand a higher bar on integrity and accountability and a vision for better political representation for our ‘new’ federal seat of Durack.

I am aware there are discussions underway, including for a strong independent candidate, but whoever from any political party puts their hand up for the next federal election, I will be looking for representation with strong governance and integrity.

Importantly, we need someone who will be truly accountable to our future generations and the environment, not someone whose party has dragged its feet on a Covid-19 plan, is a climate change denier and prioritises big donors and corporate shareholders over small business.

Following my 55-page written submission to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government, I was summoned to give further evidence and answer questions.

That process took over an hour and is recorded in around 40 pages of transcript that can be examined at www.parliament.wa.gov.au.

Because there is nothing else relevant, the “proposition” that I think the editorial refers to constitutes one paragraph of those 40 pages.

The relevant part responded to a question from a committee member, and I stand by what I said, which was:

“The big picture issue is that the boundaries are structurally unsound, and as a consequence of the boundaries being structurally unsound, most councils are financially unsound.

“It is just silly.

“Take my neck of the woods, if we had an Avon Valley council, what difference would it make?

“In a long time in public life I never had anyone come to me and say, ‘Gee, I really want to be in that council’.

“They could not care less.

“If it was an Avon Valley council, there would be a natural convergence of interests – there are similar industries, similar town structures, similar organisations.

“What do you do?

“You probably have seven to nine councils in that area, so you probably save the equivalent of the rates of Toodyay by getting rid of five CEOs.

“You set up a corporate structure that allows things to work effectively and efficiently, and inside six months no-one would care what its name was.”

That expression of an opinion was not a proposal and anyone objectively examining my written and verbal submissions will see that; as they will see that there certainly was no reference to axing the Shire of Toodyay.

I do not resile from either what was said in that inquiry nor what I actually did propose, which was that “responsibilities for council boundaries and elections be transferred to the WA Electoral Commission”.

The Parliament extended the powers of the Auditor General to cover local governments, so why not the Electoral Commission?

As taxpayers already pay for an independent and expert body that does that job, it really is hard to see what is wrong with recommending their authority be extended to include all local governments.

Firstly, that fracking is likely to contaminate, or somehow interfere with water supplies desperately needed for human activities – particularly so in outback areas where oil and gas companies frequently operate.

Secondly, that fracking uses industrial chemicals which intensify the potential harm associated with spillage or contamination of water sources.

Both these ideas may seem plausible to Joe’s readers but in fact are highly misleading to the point where presenting them as reality is inexcusable.

Fracking is a highly complex and expensive procedure which no individual or company would undertake lightly, without careful consideration of risks.

It is conducted deep underground (far below any water supply aquifers) using water with very small additions of other materials which are (in most cases) both common in everyday life and demonstrated safe at the concentrations used.

In my personal experience I know that much effort is expended to prevent any escape of either injected fracking fluids or released gas or oil.

Nevertheless, as a scientist, I also know that no intensive, highly technical activity can ever be guaranteed risk-free. Hence there are always contingencies, no matter how unlikely, which must be considered.

Comprehensive risk-management and mitigation planning are the proper safeguards against such hypothetical events, not the knee-jerk rejection of technology.

The latter reaction may forego access to gas resources which have proven potential to reliably support the transition to renewable energy systems.

Those who are not swayed should remember that Australians regularly and voluntarily immerse themselves in water containing a variety of dangerous chemicals at concentrations ranging from unwise to outright hazardous to humans.

Yes, the water from swimming pools and spas is unsafe for consumption and should never be released into waterways.

industries is causing far more damage to drinking supplies than the worst consequences of fracking could ever match.

If well-meaning individuals who seek to protect our community’s water and environment are really serious then I suggest that this is where they concentrate their efforts.

No, Ol’ Blind Joe, fracking is not “one of the world’s worst mining technologies ever developed”, not by any stretch of the imagination, nor is using the technique to promote an increasingly green economy “short-sighted and stupid”

Please do some research and think carefully about the alternatives before making such assertions.

Other than that Joe, keep it up.

Then I walked past the Toodyay Op Shop and saw the magnificent display presented to our mothers and it was a joy to behold. Whoever created the window display reflected brightly on what our mums represent.

The display’s colours of affection embraced what mothers, grandmother and great-grandmothers mean to us all.

We all say our kin are far away but our hearts are always with them, so love the times that have been shared, keep memories close and remember you are never alone.

However, this is often not the case in Toodyay because many local roads are encroached upon by overhanging limbs that force trucks, buses and tractors to the centre, presenting a clear traffic hazard.

We have alerted the shire numerous times about this significant safety issue.

The State Government has committed $120 million to upgrading Toodyay Road – something not seen locally for quite some time.

Consultation with the local community about environmental impacts, occurred in 2017.

A plan was put in place to provide a 196ha (3.5 times the area to be cleared) offset of Wandoo woodland adjacent to Clackline Nature Reserve, 88 artificial black cockatoo nesting hollows, the planting of 52ha of vegetation along Toodyay Road, sourcing 13,800 seedlings (55 species), the relocation of 90 grass trees and 20 Macrozamia palms – the list goes on.

While this may not replace mature trees, the road upgrade will hopefully prevent the deaths of family members and friends who can’t be replaced.

I believe this upgrade is predominantly about road safety, and safety alone for our citizens.

As an added bonus, the trip to Perth will also take less time, as travellers using the Great Northern Highway upgrade have discovered.

Toodyay Road was built decades ago.

Toodyay’s population has doubled in the 40 years I have lived here but our section of Toodyay Road has never had any overtaking lanes – it needs them.

Many local people now commute to Perth for work, and our town has become a popular tourist destination.

Progress is needed to cater for these changes.

We can’t let this upgrade funding be lost or stopped as happened with approved State Government funding for a Toodyay heavy-haulage bypass 20-odd years ago.

The lack of a proper town bypass means heavy trucks still have to use Stirling Terrace today.

If you support the current roadworks to upgrade Toodyay Road, I urge you to let your local shire, Main Roads WA and local MPs know.