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Collapse Issue 412 - 06 Feb 2017Issue 412 - 06 Feb 2017
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Council renews commitment to level crossing
Court arrangements 'decided by Chief Magistrate'
Court workers given 25 hours to respond
Lawyers write to keep local court
New ferry services 'urgently needed', says Chamber
New government asked to address Peninsula roads
Rock pool contamination is denied
Permission sought for above-ground diesel tank
Application lodged for three villas in Booker Bay
Woy Woy Rotary hosts Rotaract launch
Empire Bay resident starts food exchange network
Water rate review deferred 12 months
MacDonald casts doubt over Gosford accounts
Council to appoint audit committee
Member remains on leave as new sitting approaches
Give us a vote to 'demerge', says Harris
Amalgamated council will stay, says MacDonald
Certificate issued for four-unit development
New committee sought for Bays Community Group
Former exchange student returns to Umina
Recognised for special contribution
Robin Norling has died, aged 77
Skateboarde to speak at Umina church
Pastor looks for apprentice
Teenagers charged with car theft
Village residents celebrate Australia Day
One quarter of average rainfall
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
Get rid of the jet skis
Plant trees to stay cool in summer
We can do without the Bulls Hill underpass
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Program to combat mental illness stigma
Emergency workers offered yoga classes
Naturopathic nutritionist starts at Umina
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Bryce Sainty nominated as 'new artist'
Work hung at Hardys Bay
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
Preparing for a busy year ahead
Peer support training for Year 6 students
Staff changes at Pretty Beach
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Lachlan Braddish is Lifesaver of the Year
Success at national pool championships
Junior life savers to compete at Avoca
Boxers pursue Games selection at Umina
Australia Day celebrated at Everglades
Bridge club holds New Year's Cup
Collapse  HISTORY HISTORY
The British arrive at Broken Bay
Spearpoint pumps on the Peninsula

We can do without the Bulls Hill underpass

The loss of a life, as in the case of the Rawson Rd level crossing accident, is always a personal tragedy for those immediately involved.

However, in economic-rationalist terms, so beloved of our Government, the value of a human being is negligible, since there is an enormous oversupply of them, as a result of the burgeoning global population.

Not everyone might agree with this economic-rationalist approach, but for Stephanie Short (Peninsula lives matter, January 23) to draw the conclusion from this unfortunate event (of which the details are still unclear) that the Bulls Hill underpass should be built is illogical.

In this case, the Government could quite reasonably argue that it had provided an enormously expensive underpass at Rawson Rd and that anyone who chose not to use it must bear the consequences of his own actions.

All those who believe in individual responsibility for actions and like to inveigh against the nanny-state must agree with this position.

If the Bulls Hill underpass could be justified in traffic terms (which it cannot, as I have previously pointed out), then the expenditure of $115 million or so on it would be sensible.

However, if we are talking about it as a life-saving measure, any spare $115 million that the Government has lying around can be put to much more effective use in numerous other ways.

Even if Ms Short limits her consideration to Peninsula lives, the provision of improved ambulance services, the distribution of defibrillators, widespread training in CPR and the construction of footpaths are just a few of the items that spring to mind as a more beneficial use of funds than a new underpass.

No doubt, readers can suggest other and better priorities.

As far as I am aware, this is the only death to have occurred at the level crossing, whereas there are dangerous traffic black spots elsewhere in the municipality that require more urgent attention.

Emotions and political expediency might over-ride statistics in some cases, as has happened at Terrigal, but it is the responsibility of Government to use funds to the greatest benefit of the greatest number of people.

The Bulls Hill underpass is something that we can do without for years to come, while we lack basic safety measures elsewhere.





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