THE headline story in Saturday's Herald was about the three projects that Committee for the Hunter sees as the future for our region ("20,000 jobs", Herald, 15/8).
Is the Committee for the Hunter living in yesterday's world or are they just not listening to what is going on in the rest of the world?
Renewable energy is the future and our committee has failed to acknowledge this by omitting wind and solar from their list.
Perhaps they chose to leave this off their list because they know the current federal government has its head in the sand when it comes to renewable energy and so, would be less receptive to funding allocation for such progressive projects. Consider the future, when the government eventually accepts the science and goes with renewable, or better still, we have a change of government.
I was however encouraged when I turned the page to read that AGL intends to build a battery storage system, at Liddell, for the integration of renewable sources to the national energy market. At least someone is forward-thinking.
Stan Keifer, Arakoon
Batteries a commercial decision
AGL's plans to build "big batteries" at Liddell, Wandoan (Qld), Maoneng (Riverina) and possibly Loy Yang (Vic), are welcome. But what are AGL's plans for renewable power generation? ("Big battery planned for Liddell site", Herald, 15/8).
The batteries are a commercial decision, since big batteries are now cheaper. The batteries would be used to smooth out peaks in power generation. This would reduce the costs of machinery wear and tear, and the cost of purchasing "gas peakers" from gas field operators. The power stored in the batteries would still come from burning fossil fuels. AGL's batteries may not reduce CO2 emissions or power prices too much.
It would be better if AGL's plans to build big batteries were accompanied by plans to build solar and wind farms to supply the batteries. But for that to happen, AGL would need tax concessions from a more far-sighted federal government.
Geoff Black, Caves Beach
Route of zero risk not practical
IT seems that letter writers concerned about the Orica ammonium nitrate plant seem to think that Newcastle is unique in having such a plant while Australia has plants like Orica spread around the country from Kwinana in Western Australia to Queensland.
These plants provide explosives for mines and fertiliser for agriculture and are positioned close to end users while using natural gas to produce a product at the lowest cost.
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While I can understand the concern the Beirut explosion has produced, it is still not clear that the explosion was not terrorist motivated. However, if we want to go down the route of zero risk, it will have a very serious impact on our daily lives. Let's start with the 65,000 tonnes of LPG stored 130m under Botany Bay in Sydney in The Cavern, if it goes up, an explosion at Orica will look like cracker night, or let us look at the explosive potential of the wheat storage facilities in Newcastle or for that matter the local petrol stations, all of these risks are managed by capable engineers and regulators.
The fortunate thing is that Australia has some great chemical engineers who work with regulators to protect Australians from the sort of events we have seen in Beirut. The media should take a more responsible part in avoiding creating mass hysteria simply to get a story.
John Davies, Newcastle East
So much for 'love thy neighbour'
SO, unless there is intervention from a higher authority (the Department of Education, not God), SRE classes will continue at Newcastle East Public School, despite the pleas of the school principal and parents that they be temporarily suspended ("Anger after group goes against wishes", Herald, 14/8). Alex Dey, Newcastle SRE Board president, declares that they are "entitled under current legislation and policy" to be at the school and that visiting schools they have agreements with is a "risk we're happy to take". So much for love thy neighbour and all that stuff.
The ethics coordinator has agreed to the school's request that ethics classes be suspended. I suppose that's the difference. Ethics classes are designed to help children understand important issues such as acting ethically and thoughtfully, accepting moral accountability for their actions and generally living their lives in an ethical and moral way, with consideration of the rights and feelings of others. On the other hand, SRE classes seem to present an opportunity for whatever religious group finds its way into the school to promote its interpretation of their particular religion. Of course there is a way to immediately resolve this dilemma, and that is for all affected parents to withdraw their children from SRE.
John Ure, Mount Hutton
A school boundary suggestion
WITH regard to parents from New Lambton Heights unhappy with the new school boundaries, has the Department of Education, in consultation with the parents, considered extending New Lambton Heights Infants School to year 3 next year?
That way, the children could continue to gain an education locally and in a familiar environment. This could be done by employing one additional teacher and putting one demountable classroom on site.
If this proves to be a well received and successful move, one additional demountable could be added each year (2022, 2023, 2024) to accommodate years 4, 5 and 6. There appears to be ample space for four demountables close to Marshall St, from viewing Google Maps.
John Pritchard, Blackalls Park
'Blatant profiteering' a blight
I WRITE in agreement with Gillian Sullivan ("What's the real 'storey' with unit approvals?", Letters, 15/8).
The NBN site is only valued at 110-unit equivalent (even that is excessive on that site) and that is the maximum that should be allowed. Remember this development overlooks a primary school and is serviced by narrow winding roads.
Our "planning" system needs overhauling to prevent this blatant profiteering by developers.
Many examples of this up-scaling of unit numbers are now blots on our landscape and the beginning of future slums.
Gael Davies OAM, The Hill
Win for the 'silent majority'
DENISE Lindus Trummel (Letters, 8/8) supports John Fear (Letters, 5/8) expressing angst concerning the construction of a skate bowl which will encroach South Newcastle beach. The construction of such an amenity would no doubt attract more people into this part of town. More visitors means more money spent which will benefit business people.
It would be interesting to learn just how many ratepayers responded to council's request for feedback in response to its invitation concerning this matter.
For once it would appear council has listened to the silent majority.
Skateboarding is a healthy and popular pastime so let us encourage it by making it available to our community.
Robert Tacon, Adamstown Heights
SHORT TAKES
MANY years ago a man who I had worked with accidentally killed a person whilst drunk driving. Today we are told looking at your phone while driving is very similar to drink driving. To the many drivers I see each morning while on my morning walk; 'I can see you look down at your phone'. 'I can see you look up at the road'. What I can't see is the person you may have hit as you read that text. Help keep my morning walk safe and keep your eyes on the road.
Andrew Whitbread-Brown, Cardiff Heights
SCOTT Hillard, I'll go with the best medical advice thanks, (Letters, 15/8). It's a new bug that takes the immune system by storm and thrives on rabid contagion. This is the lesson of the 1918-1920 pandemic. For at least two years you're faced with the unknown. Our governments are balancing the unseen health and social threats. Where are your figures with no anti-contagion measures?
Graeme Tychsen, Rankin Park
SCOTT Hillard (Letters, 15/8) advocates getting on with life how it was before COVID, totally removing lockdowns. With a COVID death rate of over 1 per cent that means at least 250,000 Australians would die, probably more because hospitals won't cope. Every person in Australia is likely to experience the death of a loved one. Is that acceptable? Does anyone else support Scott Hillard's view and the likely outcome of the removal of restrictions?
Glen Wilson, Cardiff
TO Steve Smyth from the Queens Wharf Hotel, I'd like to say your comments in the paper are 100 per cent correct. Why the double standards on registration of those attending other venues? I have been to your establishment for a Sunday lunch and found the COVID protocol first class.
Tony Mansfield, Lambton
IF you are wearing a mask and someone with COVID-19 sneezes on you, does the virus stick to your clothes or mask? If it does then doesn't it mean you are a carrier, and wherever you go, sit, touch, your clothing is spreading it? What is happening to all the used PPE? Landfill I guess.
Amanda Johnstone, Mayfield
THE attention given to storing ammonium nitrate near the city, including locations thereof, makes it necessary that this storage and production should be moved now. This will be costly, but inaction considerably more so. Added to accidental risk is the increased risk of antisocial intent.
Peter Ronne, Woodberry
MR Ben Reece, being human, your right to life must trump all other life on this planet, garbage, you swim in the ocean, you are attacked. It's no one's fault, but your own. The belief that humans have more right to life than other species is proving to be our downfall.
