THANK you, Scott Bevan, for your enlightening article ('Port home for koalas', Newcastle Herald 26/9).
In my opinion, I find it ironic that the state government on the one hand has spent $10 million on the new Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary and on the other has presided over the approval of the extension of a Brandy Hill quarry, in the same council area, which will effectively remove 52 hectares of prime koala habitat ('Ley visits Brandy Hill koala battleground', Herald 1/10).
It appears to me, after reading the article, that the NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean is hoping that his federal counterpart Sussan Ley will reject the quarry proposal in the aftermath of the devastating summer bushfires. These fires have dramatically reduced both koala numbers and habitat.
Would it not be appropriate for Mr Kean and the NSW government to overturn the decision themselves?
This would be a positive step in saving our Australian icon from possible extinction in the not too distant future.
Ian Thomas, The Hill
Future at stake in gas gambit
ON Wednesday, while our government sealed the deal on a gas-led recovery ('Narrabri gas approval boosts pipeline plan', Herald 1/10), a Global Smart Energy Summit was being held where the visionaries of the world came together to look at the energy sources for the 21st century and how to transition to a clean energy future.
Will we meekly accept that Australia has chosen to keep its foot firmly in the energy sources of the past or will we as a community demand more for ourselves in terms of cleaner air, better health and a safer climate?
Our children's futures are at stake. Why would we recklessly and needlessly heat the world they inherit? The so-called gas-led recovery predicated on cheap gas is a mirage.
Helen Cameron, Tamworth
Our police need reinforcements
I BELIEVE we and the police have lost control of this great city, and that the handcuffs need to come off the police to let them start disciplining without the whinging do-gooders getting in their way. Drugs are running rampant with no sign of easing. Quite simply, the police need help.
Last week my daughter had her home robbed while they were asleep. They took her car, money and other items. The scary part was the culprit took a meat cleaver off the wall and walked through the baby's bedroom. I'm so glad they didn't wake up, as who knows what might have happened. The incident was reported at 7.30am, but apparently didn't come on the police computer until 11am. The guy was caught on film.
It's just not good enough. Maybe lose the revenue hunters in highway patrol and start policing again. Some time ago I was robbed and bashed with a gun stuck in my neck at a hotel. The same guys later shot a man. Let me tell you, it's not a nice feeling. We need to act now.
Stephen Smyth, Merewether
Not exactly a shower of praise
TOPICS (Herald, 30/9) asked if you like to sing in the shower. Some 45 years ago, as a young baritone, I won the Newcastle Open Eisteddfod and practised in the shower.
One evening I received a call at the police station from my wife about a situation involving our new neighbours, whom we had not met, so I went to the address with my colleague and we were greeted at the door by a big fellow who refused to let us in the door. My partner took his glasses off and said "We're coming in - the easy way or the hard way, it's up to you". The man then stood aside and we went in and spoke to the lady of the house. She was upset but did not want any police action. As we were leaving, the man said "Why don't you do something about the noise that bloke next door makes when he sings in the shower every night". My partner realised that he was talking about me and it was all we could do to keep a straight face. The couple moved out a week later and, until then, I naturally refrained from my usual evening performance.
David Stuart, Merewether
Build support by hiring local firms
THANK you, Rod Doherty ('Where has the $766m hospital plan gone?', Newcastle Herald 29/90). Without community minded people such as you this information would just fade away, or we would never know about it at all. Fancy leaving the truth to the "Health Infrastructure spokesperson" mentioned in the article.
Is this the same department responsible for overseeing construction contracts, the same government department which allows the construction company to issue an approximate $10 million contracts to two Asian-controlled, Sydney-based companies?
This is taxpayer money. Why was this amount of money in works not distributed amongst our local Newcastle companies? This decision is totally outrageous. This amount of money would stay local, not take the trip down the M1 to Sydney and beyond who knows where.
CFMEU, where are you now? Short of members, are we? Now you know why. You should be all over this. Come on, brothers, show us some muscle. You have been very quiet for decades now. With all of the work in and around Newcastle you have been nowhere to be seen. Australian dollars for Australian workers.
Mark Anderson, Cardiff South
We don't rate where our cash goes
UNFORTUNATELY for Jill Hall's devastation expressed in her article last Saturday on the closure of Valentine Pools (Letters, 26/9), there are in my opinion many decisions by Lake Macquarie council that you would put a question mark over.
Following a recent information request to council concerning work being undertaken on the council staff car park, I was advised that the council is spending $897,000 on improved site security, providing solar generation capacity to reduce electricity costs and carbon emissions and to prepare council pool car parking areas for partial transmission to electric vehicles.
I believe the timing of this project could not have been more inappropriate or unnecessary. Approximately 800,000 Australians are now unemployed because of decisions made by bureaucrats, yet the public service remains protected. Sadly, many of the unemployed would be residents of Lake Macquarie and would have recently received their increased rate notices.
It was only a few months ago that I recall the mayor advising that no council employee would be stood down because of COVID. Well, that's because the ratepayers are, as usual, footing the bill.
Kevin Gilshenan, Teralba
Let workers tug at heartstrings
I READ Phillip Carter's letter regarding sacking the wharf workers. Mate, you should live in the real world. Give them their deserved pay rise and stop the big multinational bosses from getting richer.
