NEWCASTLE council is giving residents the opportunity to help decide where a new off-leash area should be put for dogs and owners to enjoy in the Lambton area ('Lambton Park dog-eared for fenced area amid howls of demand', Herald 27/6).
I am greatly in favour of off-leash areas being made for residents and pleased that Newcastle is championing the needs of dog owners. The reason I am writing is that there is already a wonderful off-leash area in North Lambton, two kilometres from both locations. Serving Broadmeadow or Adamstown seems more pertinent to me.
Lambton Park's area must be preserved for mixed use. I have been the member of several casual groups that meet in the proposed space. It is nearly flat but not graded for sports use which is a rare public use amenity in Newcastle. Groups use this because the location increases community engagement through the prominent position. Families and people exercising use it because it is level and open.
The location at Armstrong Park is large and on a hill with a walking path and trees. It is a beautiful natural setting and would be excellent for picnics, dogs and adventures but unfortunately has no remotely level sporting ground.
I urge the Newcastle Herald readership to put forth their opinion - agreeing with mine or otherwise - in the City of Newcastle's community consultation via their website, and I hope that I have shown some of the benefits in alternatives to Lambton Park.
Samuel Vijay Pierce, Adamstown
No masking the complacency
I RECENTLY read an article that highlighted the problem of many Australians dismissing the potential severity of the virus and their propensity for disregarding social distancing and protective measures. I see such behaviour on a daily basis in Newcastle. In particular, as per the newspaper article, I have noticed the lack of mask wearing.
Considering that the virus can remain airborne for hours, particularly in enclosed areas such as clubs, pubs, cafes, restaurants, supermarkets and hairdressers, it amazes me that people still attend such venues, particularly without any personal protection.
Any gathering of people is an invitation to transmit. So it makes no difference that some venues are reduced from 100 people to 10 people. It only takes one person to start it; just look at the Crossroads Hotel in Sydney.
Only recently, at a major supermarket in town, I had an employee lean across my shoulder in order that they could restock a shelf. At least I was wearing a mask. The article made reference to a statement by Professor Nick Talley, editor-in-chief of The Medical Journal of Australia. He stated that "wearing a condom was really protective against HIV (during that pandemic) - now wearing a mask is protective." After my observations of most of the personnel that I come across at the previously mentioned venues, it is my opinion that they should all be wearing condoms over their heads.
John Sorensen, Merewether
Silence persists despite defence
PETER Dolan now accuses Julie Robinson of being a misandrist, simply because she cited instances of where she had witnessed (or experienced) men behaving badly (Letters, 18/7). But in his race to defend all men, Mr Dolan misses the point of Ms Robinson's letter - to highlight the "lack of progress regarding equality and justice and the very few men who have taken up Peter's public challenge of 'Are you with me?' with a public response" (Letters 16/7).
Mr Dolan then goes on to cherry-pick a couple of instances from around the world where women have behaved badly and concludes with reference to a recently-published study that he quotes as concluding that over the past six centuries "Europe's queens were more likely than its kings to wage war". I have not read the paper he cites, but even the abstract shows that the authors' conclusions were more nuanced than that: "While single queens were more likely to be attacked than single kings, married queens were more likely to attack than married kings. These results suggest asymmetries in the division of labour: married queens were more inclined to enlist their spouses in helping them rule, who enabled them ultimately to pursue more aggressive war policies".
John Ure, Mount Hutton
Status update needed offline too
SORRY Julie Robinson (Letters, 16/7) I prefer rationality over self-righteous virtue-signalling. If Peter Gogarty looked at crime statistics by local government area, I believe he would find that offence rates are higher away from privilege. The ABC in 2018 reported that offence rates for domestic violence are higher in poorer areas.
I believe empty motherhood statements like "men need to speak up" mean nothing, and will achieve nothing. How about tangible measures to address domestic violence, like public flogging of offenders? There seems to be little stomach for that. It's much easier to change your status on social media.
Scott Hillard, New Lambton
Simplify process for new citizens
TO gain a permanent visa and hold it for the four years required prior to applying for Australian citizenship, said visa holder must never have been charged with a criminal act that requires imprisonment. If said holder is charged, the visa can be cancelled and the holder deported. So, why is there a problem and the need for the holder to wait for maybe six years to obtain citizenship?
The holder of a permanent visa can simply not apply and still get most of the social services as a citizen, and I believe many choose to do so. But for those who chose to become Australian, should it not be simplified? Do the test online and pay for a police check, both federal and state. This may cost around $100 and take a month to complete.
Colin Diplock, Rankin Park
Raise voices from the gallery
I HAVE several issues with our so-called technological advances. Things such as the dumb placement of the on/off button on electric shavers, which often results in accidental turn off while shaving; ouch!
However, to me, probably the most annoying shortfall in technology, that could be easily remedied, is when our leaders hold press conferences. Whilst we can hear the principal's responses to questions, we can't hear what the bloody question was.
These press conferences must probably be the only occasion when readers of sign language have the advantage over others because the signer does relate what the question was.
I am confident that any of my grandchildren over the age of five could fix the sound problem; so should those in power. However, given that most politicians appointed to senior positions in my opinion increase the average age of Cabinet but lower the average IQ, who knows?
(Apologies to Yes Prime Minister)
Mike Sargent, Cootamundra
SHARE YOUR OPINION
Email letters@newcastleherald.com.au or send a text message to 0427 154 176 (include name, suburb). Letters should be fewer than 200 words and Short Takes fewer than 50 words. Correspondence may be edited and reproduced in any form.
SHORT TAKES
COULD all the climate change deniers please explain to me 38 degrees Celsius in the arctic? These are temperatures that have never ever been recorded before. I wait with baited breath for your substantiated replies. Alas there is only one explanation; humans burning fossil fuels.
Dan Kirkpatrick, Karuah
ON Sunday morning I had a bloke enter my property and started taking bottles from our bin. He thought it was a holiday home. I explained politely that we give our bottles to a man who has a disability, the bloke let fly with all sorts of abuse even calling the disabled man the c word. Diplomacy was no longer the way I decided and gave this pig a friendly escort from my yard. Locals, keep an eye out and give this bloke his marching orders. I think trespassing and going through people's bins is still a crime.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
PEOPLE from COVID-19 hotspots in Sydney are driving up to the John Hunter Hospital to be tested for the virus (''Ramp up' hotspot clinics', Herald 17/7). What happens if they test positive and they have stopped at numerous places during their trip? Maybe the Premier should lockdown these suburbs in western Sydney and keep the virus down there.
Darryl Tuckwell, Eleebana
WHOA, the wave crashing into Shortland Esplanade at Nobbys shown in Friday's paper ('Surf's up as big swell rocks Newcastle's coastline', Herald 17/7)in my opinionshows the possibility of the walkway and part of the road sitting unsupported on an eroded section of rock work. I would suggest that at the first low tide with no wind an engineer inspects and orders a concrete pump to re-pack this cavity. One would hope council already knows of any potential danger.
Carl Stevenson, Dora Creek
PETER Lewis's genius rears up, again (Opinion, 18/7). Even those who hang ten wouldn't surf COVID-19, it's a tsunami. The only hanging would be by the neck.
Graeme Tychsen, Rankin Park
GREG Hunt (Short Takes, 17/7), just because Michael Shellenberger apologises for alarmism doesn't mean that the climate science is wrong, that global warming is not real or dangerous, or that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are not double the average over the past 800,000 years. Far better to read up on all that.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
WHOOH! Great game, Knights ('Barnstormer', Herald 20/7). You deserved it. In my opinion you still need a goal kicker though.
Bill Slicer, Tighes Hill
THE Newcastle Knights were very lucky not to go into golden point. It seems voluntary tackles are no longer penalised. Kalyn Ponga - you're a lucky boy.
Matt McAlary, Waratah
WELL, it's just dawned on me that Americans like nincompoops. I wonder if they know that they found one. I'm not that sure; maybe we should wait for November.
