MATTHEW Kelly's piece ('Pump house returning to its former glory', Newcastle Herald 1/8) on the Carrington hydraulic engine house (pictured), together with Peter Lewis' cartoon regarding the Newcastle Maritime Museum (Opinion 1/8), prompted my thoughts on the long term issue of how to reuse this large and impressive building just across the water from the former Honeysuckle Railway Workshops, part of which is now the Newcastle Regional Museum. Both these sites are associated with the NSW government railways as well as the harbour.
In my career as an architect with NSW Public Works I had the opportunity to work with the then Hunter Port Corporation following a devastating fire started by vandals in the main engine room, which had been used as a store since its closure in 1964. The fire burned out the roof of the engine room and my role was to document the reconstruction works.
The success of the roof reconstruction led to further works as funds became available and items such as window restoration work, as well as the reconstruction of the large-panelled doors to the Engine Room and the Accumulator Towers together with new large cast iron guttering installation. The Hunter Port Corporation engaged NSW Public Works to prepare a conservation management plan for the building, and a concept design for a three-storey building behind the engine house as part of an expression of interest process for its reuse.
There is an opportunity here to form a committee comprised of representatives from the Port of Newcastle, state government, City of Newcastle and Newcastle Maritime Museum to preserve this city's valuable maritime collection and store it initially in the eastern boiler house of the Carrington building with perhaps a longer term goal of a future Power House Museum style development on the site, which is adjacent to the future wharf to dock visiting ocean liners.
By 2024, the Carrington hydraulic engine house will have been empty for 60 of its 147 years. Planning needs to happen now to begin to reverse this situation, as well as offering a safe and secure store for the Maritime Museum's collection.
John Carr, Toronto
We can't border on such cruelty
LIKE Milton Caine (Letters, 26/8), my wife and I have stayed at the old quarantine station at North Head and enjoyed immersing ourselves in its history. But it would be unrealistic for the government to commandeer it as emergency quarantine accommodation. For one thing, it would be in an impractical location given it was built when people came to Australia by boat. That is no longer the case.
Would it perhaps be better to construct a purpose-built facility near the Badgerys Creek airport? This need not be anything fancy; a series of dormitories with separate accommodation for men, women and children with mess halls for eating and ablution blocks. Of course it would need to be surrounded by high fences topped by barbed wire and, when in use, patrolled by armed guards to prevent escapes.
This may seem a tad harsh since people held there would not have committed any crime, but it would only be for a couple of weeks. What I have described are exactly the conditions in which refugees who seek safety in Australia and who have also committed no crime are now imprisoned indefinitely.
John Ure, Mount Hutton
Understanding can limit more pain
THE suicides of Fr Glen Walsh and Steven Alward highlighted in Suzanne Smith's book The Altar Boys illuminate the suffering and distress of many associated with these men. The pain resulting from these deaths and others like them are not historical fact but daily features of life for many individuals and families.
Bob O'Toole and Clergy Abused Network have identified suicides linked to childhood sexual abuse and the Catholic Church. The effects of suicide on families is devastating. This devastation is confronted every day by families. It is not a historical event, it is real suffering. At times this is courageously borne and acts as a catalyst for change. Audrey Nash and her family are examples of this courage.
Suzanne Smith's book will create awareness of events for many who may have been associated with them and may create distress and feelings of desolation and disillusionment. It may prompt others to address issues they have long thought buried. It may create for others a sense of urgency to address unresolved issues relating to childhood. There are organisations in our community who can help. One of these groups is Survivors and Mates Support Network) a not-for-profit male support group. It operates groups for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the Newcastle area (phone 1800 472 676 - www.samsn.org.au).
If you are feeling distressed, reach out for help. There are many of us in the community who understand.
Lindsay Gardner, Fletcher
Precautions, but no guarantees
IN the past 100 years there have been unintended ammonium nitrate explosions in 15 countries, including Australia. More than 2000 people have been killed. In 1972 a truck carrying 12 tonnes exploded in Queensland due to an electrical fault, killing the driver and two would-be helpers. In 2014, also in Queensland, a truck carrying 56 tonnes overturned, fortunately without the loss of life.
Unplanned accidents can occur. Additionally, planned catastrophic events can also occur. The deliberate Oklahoma bombing, which killed 156 people, involved an ammonium nitrate mixture. Could a lightning strike ignite the Kooragang storage? Could an electrical fault, a truck collision, a welding accident or a planned attack on the plant initiate a catastrophe? The possible outcome is too dreadful to contemplate.
The company should not be criticised. It has complied with regulations and has designed storage to be as safe as can be imagined. Nevertheless, now that the situation has been brought to attention and considered, the current storage of immense quantities of ammonium nitrate on Kooragang Island should not be continued in my view. It is up to all of us, through action by the government, to shift the massive storage of ammonium nitrate to a location where the safety of Newcastle is not in jeopardy.
Barry Boettcher, New Lambton
Give actions a second thought
SADLY we still are at risk from this terrible killer virus. Still, we see everyday those who disregard all isolation practice and ignore self distancing rules. I have been self isolating and only going out for essentials, wearing a mask for my protection and that of others. Yet we are still seeing the gladiators going about showing no regard. Some are taking their small children and exposing them too. Well done to the stupid few, who have no regard for their own family, everyone that they encounter or the general public. Please, pause and think about what you are doing. This virus is designed to infect, maim and kill. It is lurking in the shadows waiting for the likes of you who are not isolating to infect, and will inflict that success on those doing the right thing.
