Curmudgeonly types usually bristle at attempts to re-name things, usually for politically correct ends.
But one attempt this week at a new moniker for a lowly but lovely local deserves support.
The unfortunately named ‘water rat’ should be regarded as “Victoria’s otter”, contends Australian Platypus Conservancy.
Unlike rats, the reclusive native mammal is actually “extremely attractive”, the conservancy points out, noting the similarity of its appearance and role as a top-level aquatic predator to that of the foreign otter.
The potential of a water rat renaming could be significant. After all, numbers appear to be dwindling and who wouldn’t rather save the native otter than a type of rat?
And think of the tourism opportunity – surely visitors would like to see otters in the Victorian wild.
Anyway, the conservancy’s running a study on water rat, sorry, otter numbers, and wants any sightings reported at platypus.asn.au.
Environmentalists who campaigned against Anglesea’s coal mine might have a new local cause, all thanks to Surf Coast Shire’s financial management.
The shire announced this week that it would continue dumping rubbish in its tip amid native bushland at Anglesea until mid-2025 at least, foregoing the opportunity to send local rubbish to a new regional facility proposed for a quarry site near Stonehaven.
Mayor Brian McKiterick confirmed the decision was all about money, which would amount to $2.5 million over 10 years if the shire closed the Anglesea tip “early”.
Cr McKiterick’s concerns might be understandable given the shire’s budgeting for expenses growth of $4.4 million next financial year compared to a paltry $600,000 increase in revenue.
After all, the money’s gotta come from somewhere – and in this case it’s the environment!
Those things pictured above – what are they?
Dumped bundles of twine?
Rolls of cable for the local NBN rollout?
Something that fell off the back of a truck?
Nope, nope, and nope.
Believe it or not, they’re Geelong’s latest public art installation.
City Hall has acquired the “sculpture”, Curls of Fancy, to jazz up Geelong’s new Lt Malop St railway pedestrian bridge.
Creator Roman Liebach wasn’t kidding when he said his latest work was “open for interpretation”.
“Geelong has a strong manufacturing and wool history; The Curls of Fancy evoke ideas of creative energy, a spinning and dynamic force,” he explained.
Double Take tips that the only thing spinning will be the heads of passers-by trying to work out what the heck those things are!
