As always, when told something of this nature I ask myself the question: What happens next?

In my previous letter to the Wimmera Mail-Times, I noted nothing would happen for a very long time due to the cost of the VicRoads preferred option D bypass route, apart from the restriction of development especially the airport due the planning acquisition overlay scarring the map of Horsham.

My next question: What happens to Wilson Street? 

Recently we have seen a marked increase in truck traffic travelling to and from South Australia via the Wimmera Highway – log trucks and potato trucks in particular.

This is a very congested shopping strip with just two lanes of traffic.  

VicRoads’ option D bypass route, passing to the north of town, does absolutely nothing for Wilson Street. 

As years go by, this congestion will only increase and, of course, we still have stock transports driving through town slopping bio-hazard on the street as well. 

You can close your eyes but this problem will not go away.

To the south of the river we have many businesses between Plumpton Road and Golf Course Road and the new enterprise business estate is also located there.

Looking west from the Caltex corner in Stawell Road, it is apparent these businesses are in a dead-end alley. 

How much better access these businesses would have, if we had a link road from Stawell Road to the Wimmera Highway west of Curran Road.

Noise is a potential issue but keeping speed down to a steady 80 kilometres an hour would minimise this as would earthen banks and other noise reduction barriers. 

A bridge near Curran Road would have to be carefully sighted due to heritage concerns but physically there is virtually no floodplain there.

As a resident of Haven myself, I would look forward to getting a decent traffic interchange at the Caltex corner instead of the terrible arrangement we have now. 

It is totally ridiculous that traffic from Golf Course Road wishing to turn south onto the Henty Highway must cross the west-bound traffic lane of the Western Highway.

What happens next, Mayor Clarke?

Russell McKenzie, Haven            

I AM writing to congratulate the editor at staff of the Wimmera Mail-Times for the real effort that has gone into publishing the paper over the past few months. 

It is pleasing to see more local input, news of interest and wider coverage of everyday happenings within the region once again being given space in the paper. 

A couple of years back, I wrote very concerned at the decision to cut jobs within the Fairfax group as I felt this would impact heavily on the local paper. 

At the time, I said that it was the human, personal touch, living, breathing and being part of the community you live in that creates the best outcomes. 

The gradual improvement in our once great local newspaper is starting to be seen and I, for one, congratulate you all on the efforts being made. Keep it up. 

Congratulations and every good wish for once again making the Wimmera Mail-Times more Wimmera and more newsworthy to read. 

Rene Vivian, Horsham

I HAVE read Phil Lienert’s letter (Title: The church is the guardian of God’s moral code, Wimmera Mail-Times, Wednesday, August 16) and as usual, Mr Lienert expresses the opinion of the silent majority. 

As a Christian, Mr Lienert is a scholar and a believer and is aware of the moral decline in society. 

The churches should be the bastion of God’s moral law, however they have caved in to the fringe area radicals. 

Sadly, the Christian churches have abandoned the moral fibre and ignored God’s moral law. There will be a heavy and irreversible price to pay. Permissiveness has become the norm in our society. 

Congratulations to Phil – you have again hit the nail right on the head. 

Donald Jagger, Horsham

THIS government is committed to supporting current and former members of the Australian Defence Force who may have been physically or sexually abused.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has introduced measures to make it easier for those affected to access compensation and to receive the mental health support they need.

The department has broadened the acceptance of statutory declarations as part of compensation claims, making it possible for such declarations to constitute sufficient evidence to establish that abuse took place.

This change will benefit those who may not have reported abuse at the time it occurred or who have never previously spoken about it. 

A dedicated team has also been established to manage all new claims relating to sexual and physical abuse.

Treatment for all mental health conditions is now free for anyone who has served just one day in the full-time defence force.

The Veterans and Veterans’ Families Counselling Service also provides specialist free counselling and group programs. This service is available by phoning 1800 011 046, or via their website: www.vvcs.gov.au.

Dan Tehan, Veterans Affairs Minister