IF the planned parking yard for empty containers at Mayfield goes ahead, then the Newcastle Harbour Port Authority must expect that Newcastle will soon receive full containers from overseas.
Presumably, the two Liebherr mobile cranes on order from Germany would unload these containers and load up container ships. Most inbound and outbound containers would be for the Sydney metropolitan area.
For outgoing containers, the cranes would firstly load up ships with full containers and then top up the ships with the empties. Most of the empties would be stored in the new Mayfield yard, ("Port works contracts", Herald,13/11).
The planned container park at Mayfield could be problematic.
Firstly, at present, Port Botany and Port Kembla are the only container terminals that can operate profitably.
Maybe the Newcastle Harbour Port Authority expects that these legal monopolies will end soon.
This would make a Newcastle container terminal commercially viable as the penalty per container payable to other port lessees would be waived.
But is this NSW government policy? Or are we in for a long, expensive legal stoush funded by the Newcastle Harbour Port Authority? If the matter remains unsettled, then why take a punt?
Secondly, most of the incoming and outgoing containers would be for the Sydney metropolitan area. Each week we could expect a thousand container trucks to choke up Newcastle roads and the M1.
Do Novocastrians really want Sydney's container trucks choking up their roads? What would be the value to Newcastle of the extra economic activity? How many extra jobs would be on offer locally?
Geoff Black, Caves Beach
Where does it all end?
RECENTLY when I caught my bus, No.11 (or 13), from Hunter St near Marketown into the Station opposite the Customs House, we turned into Bolton St and were told this was the end of the route, ie. two bus stops short of the usual terminus at The Station.
The bus driver told us that this will be the terminus for these buses for six months because of road works and the Supercars in March 2022. Where will this end?
I moved into Pacific St in 2000. Understandably there have been many changes to the bus system since that time as the area which has become more residential rather than the commercial area it had been for so long. I now have to catch two buses to attend my Mater hospital appointments.
Okay, so I expected this area to improve/change, but not at the expense of all its transport etc and especially Supercars.
We who live in this area of our historical Newcastle have been given no say regarding the Supercars and the impact they are having on we the residents.
When and where will this all end?
Suzanne Martin, Newcastle
Unsafe and unsuitable in 2021
OH, how I wish I could be as generous as Les Field with praise for CoN regarding improvement by "installing new kerbs and gutters, footpaths and installation of pram ramps in Wickham Street", (Short Takes, 11/11).
I will appraise readers of a letter I sent to a councillor a few months ago.
"I live in an area of concern regarding ease of access and safety entering John St, via Albert St, Wickham, proceeding right into Fleming St. This area was never designed to accommodate cars travelling both ways and parking on both sides of the road. Footpath access is perilous with protruding tree roots, unusual disorder and muddle of various material and inappropriate large trees growing on the footpath. People with prams and others exercising often do so on the street. Kerb and pram-ramps are non-existent."
I hope my message indicates how unsafe and unsuitable the area is for modern day occupancy.
I received a phone call from the councillor a few weeks ago and he advised me to contact Tim Crakanthorp about road issues, and he made no suggestion regarding footpath issues.
Pat Garnet, Wickham
Changes we can be proud of
THE city must be congratulated, now that the urban blight that was the car park is being demolished.
It was explained that the corridor will extend to the harbour at the demolished Queens Tower site.
Clearly an iconic future ''front door'' to Newcastle. The whole could be worthy of an architectural competition.
Perhaps the city might allow us to see their vision for the whole redevelopment; the Stairway, the Corridor and the Queens Wharf and Stockton Ferry Wharf complexes.
The wharves precinct is the most visited in the ''old'' city region, a magnificent site for great architecture and urban design.
It is destined to be the view that the world will recognise as Newcastle.
Fred Whitaker, Newcastle
No thanks to Sydney's sludge
IT'S been reported that the NSW government plans to barge around 12,000 cubic metres of very toxic sludge from Middle Harbour dredging, to the Port of Newcastle as part of the new under Middle Harbour northern beaches link.
This new unwelcomed export to Newcastle only serves to consolidate the apparent contemptuous Sydney-centric perpetual lack of support for our sustained prosperity and job creation opportunities of a new international container terminal.
What is our council's view on this?
Tony Brown, Newcastle
Complainers the new norm
CAROL Selmeci, ("Don't lose city's old charm", Letters, 10/11), anytime I read accounts like yours, I always think that I was born too late.
I constantly lament how things were here, especially concerning Newcastle's live music scene back in the 70s and 80s (unfortunately also before my time).
It makes me so sad that we've gone from a city where one could even enjoy live music on a Monday and Tuesday night, to a city people mistakenly refer to as a suburb, where noise complaints made against live music venues on Friday and Saturday nights (as well as Sunday afternoons) have become the norm.
I think if the Johnny-come-lately apartment dwellers making such complaints had attempted to do so anytime from the 50s to the mid 2000s, they would've been laughed out of town.
I imagine it would almost be like someone present day attempting a similar sort of stunt in Soho or parts of Paris.
Heartbreaking that it has come to this, as we used to be able to compete with global cities.
Former visitors to Newcastle, Johnny O'Keefe and Little Richard, would roll in their graves if they could see how much Newcastle had become like an above-ground cemetery.
Adz Carter, Newcastle
SHORT TAKES
IF City of Newcastle was realistic about power farms and energy usage why haven't they insisted that all new homes be fitted with solar panels? Houses for sale should also be fitted and the cost added to the purchase price. They have insisted on water tanks so why not power?
John Bradford, Beresfield
REGARDING the assisted dying bill in NSW Parliament, it's a worry when religion takes precedence over compassion and common sense. I would ask Mr Perrottet, would he put a suffering animal to sleep? Well, biologically humans are no different. If our Premier doesn't want assisted dying himself, fine. But he should allow others the privilege of choice.
Neville Aubrey, Wallsend
I'D like to congratulate the Herald on another excellent Lewis cartoon in Saturday 13/11 edition. It captured the "liar from the Shire" perfectly. Shame it's true and he is our PM though.
Fred Budden, Belmont
I FIND it astounding that Josephine Lado could go shopping and partying for a substantial period of time while having COVID and obviously showing no symptoms at all. I wonder how many of the thousands of people that have tested positive have actually gotten sick. Surely she's not the only one. All we hear is how many have tested positive how many are in hospital, in ICU or on respirators, or worse have passed away, not to mention the vaccination status of those that test positive.
Steven Busch, Rathmines
THANK you Sue Hellyer, ("'Loved to death': paradise needs protection" Letters, 13/11), for representing Dudley and surrounding communities with regard to concerns about increased residential development and associated environmental impact. These areas need to be protected.
Kiri Oswald, Kahibah
WHY do we need tunnels under Sydney Harbour? Scott Morrison could simply part the waves with a wave of his holy hands.
John Bonnyman, Fern Bay
TIM Roberts, (Short Takes, 13/11) must be confusing vaccination certificates with a QR code to enter Woolies or Coles, which are essential shopping outlets.
Ian King, Warners Bay
I SAW the stage show Priscilla last week at the Civic theatre and i would like to thank the local actors for a magnificent performance. It was funny from start to finish. I hope this will bring stage shows back to our local theatres.
Denise Lawrence, Rankin Park
SO much for Arthur Papas and his all attacking Jets. Maybe he should concentrate on defence, starting with his goalkeeper.
