General News
21 June, 2026
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Beautiful burnt cars and thoughts on wind turbines
Want to write a letter? Email us at news@ncnherald.com.au
Is a burnt car a beautiful town entry?
THE Northern Grampians Shire Council in 2024 released a report (which would have provided a consultant many thousands of dollars of ratepayers money) called Wayfound – Northern Grampians Shire Council Tourism signage strategy.
In this report it was established that “Town entry statements capture a sense of arrival, beautify the entry point and help to establish the identity of the city or town for tourists and local residents alike. Effective gateway signage has a positive impact on local economic development and tourism.” (Page 3).
On Feburary 23, the St. Arnaud Fire Brigade turned out to a burnt out car at the rest area on the Wimmera Hwy, approximately 2km west of St. Arnaud.
Despite numerous requests to various authorities, that burnt out vehicle remains at the rest area.
What is the Council’s Town Entry Plan for St. Arnaud? Are we trying to portray our town as some sort of Mad Max Post Apocalyptic Type Vibe, or are we trying to make out St. Arnaud as some sort of lawless backwater?
Why can’t this vehicle just be removed?
It is a disgrace that after four months this vehicle (which people are now dumping their rubbish in) remains there, welcoming our visitors to our town.
I’d bet any money that if this was in Stawell or Halls Gap then it would be removed pronto.
If the Northern Grampians Shire wants to portray St Arnaud as ground zero of a zombie infestation then please let us know. We’ll happily dress up for the occasion.
However, if the Northern Grampians Shire had any real intentions of including St. Arnaud as a part of its long-term tourist strategy or being inclusive in its Tourism signage strategy, then they’d remove this eyesore.
I know it costs money to remove. But it seems that the Shire is hellbent on dishing out the dollars to consultants and looking like they are doing something, rather than actually doing something productive.
David Reynolds
St Arnaud
Thoughs on those wind turbines
JUNE 15 is Global Wind Day.
Some of us in Melbourne are interested in how the wind turbines roll out is going in rural areas.
I rang a contact in northern Victoria.
I knew that some farmers are happy to host turbines on their property, albeit for a fee, while others are not (“Routine meeting turns sour as Vic Grid leaves farmers unheard again”, 10/6). I had not realised the complexity of the situation.
My contact said the issue is causing community division.
Issues which your readers know include:
The wide easements of 70-100 m wide over kms take up valuable farming land.
Firetrucks are not permitted underneath the transmission lines, as smoke and water can carry electricity.
Headers are too tall to be allowed under these lines.
Having Vic Grid employees and others enter a property is a biosecurity hazard.
At the end of the life of the turbine, the farmer has to somehow dismantle the turbine as tall as an MCG tower and dispose of it him/herself!
While many community meetings have been held to “inform” farmers, it would appear they have not been genuinely consulted, which is a very different matter.
Most people would be in favour of some level of renewable energy.
Why not harness this desire and use genuine consultation with farmers and landowners to deal with the placement of turbines?
Unless this happens, the whole project is at risk.
Jane Marshall
Brighton
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