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Canberra Today 24°/26° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Letters / Invasive weeds in Downer

Vinca major… many Downer gardens full of invasive weeds and shrubs.

I AM overcome with the invasive weed Vinca major (periwinkle) in my rented house property at Downer.

When I lived with my daughter next door, we were always complaining about this invasive pest from all sides of the fence.  

I have had some success with Roundup and detergent spray.

But a quick look around Downer shows many gardens full of invasive weeds and shrubs, including my place, which is probably the worst example.    

These plants are only going to keep growing and annoying neighbours if something isn’t done to protect our environment.

I propose we have a Clean Up Our Block Day and remove Vinca major as a first step.

Jennifer Burgess, Downer

What was Tanya thinking?

I WOULD normally agree with columnist Mike Welsh, but his comment in “Seven Days” (CN, February 15) on Tanya Plibersek taking the “next step” (into leadership of the ALP) I can’t agree with.

In my opinion, Plibersek showed a huge error of judgement in agreeing to stand alongside both Shorten and Bowen to support Sam Dastyari ahead of his eventual resignation.  What on earth was she thinking of?

Ric Hingee, Duffy

Woes about Curtin’s Great Wall

I NEVER was much good at maths – as everyone knows – but does it really make good financial sense to quarry 700+ tonnes of rock from Wee Jasper, craft 20,000+ individual stones (many by hand – I’m watching them at work on the unfinished inner side) and use 1000+ cubic metres of concrete, at an overall cost to ACT ratepayers of some $1.2 million, to build that Great Wall of Curtin just to keep the rabbits out?

Max McGregor, Curtin

Plant deciduous trees

IT’S a scientific fact that when a rainforest is burnt enough, it becomes forest; that when forest is burned enough, it becomes woodland; when woodland is burnt enough, it becomes savanna and that when savanna is burnt enough, it becomes desert. This is what has happened to our land.

I realise that burning off is necessary to prevent huge bushfires, but the only way to change the environment and make it truly greener and less conflagratory is to plant green, deciduous trees.

They improve the soil, provide browsing for stock, raise the water table, provide shade in summer and light in winter, provide protection from fires (as they are fire retardant) and are a source of homes and food for many Australian birds and mammals.

Many deciduous plants, such as trumpet vine, are highly favoured as food by honeyeaters. The Curtin horse paddocks have the best bird life of any around Canberra and have a thriving deciduous tree and shrub population.

An added benefit of these trees, is that many don’t drop limbs the way eucalypts commonly do.

Planting deciduous trees is an important action that will salvage our dying Australian landscape as well as proper water management.

Margot Sirr, Gowrie

 

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