WHILE City of Newcastle council continues the hard sell messages of Supercars in an attempt to persuade the public, I believe it's a very relevant exercise to study the current residential real estate marketing messages for inner-city Newcastle.
The Newcastle peninsula is experiencing a number of exciting major residential developments which have many local residents, and undoubtedly the Newcastle council, pinning their hopes and aspirations for a brighter and more prosperous Newcastle East End locality. To entice and excite prospective buyers, the marketing savvy agents and developers use vivid and pleasurable messages to describe the benefits of the proposed new purchases.
Marketing messages aimed at a new inner-city lifestyle such as: experience the sand and the sun, the waves and city surf beaches, city heritage and a working harbour, the bars and restaurants, cafes and coffee, all accessible within leisurely strolls etc. However, never has it been apparent in any of the marketing messages the mention of Supercar races also moving into your new chosen locality and hurtling around your brand new residential purchase.
Clearly, from a real estate marketing perspective the Newcastle Supercars race is not a desirable marketing lever to entice buyers and investors in the multi-million-dollar business of selling residential real estate on the Newcastle peninsula.
Reasonable people in Newcastle could ask, why is that?
Mel Horadam, Newcastle
Lather of blather but no plan yet
PRIME Minister Scott Morrison's speech on the deal the Liberals did with the Nationals was delivered as loudly and forcefully as ever. But as ever, the PM's speech was all PR spin and blather. As ever, we are left with targets and assertions but no plan on carbon emission reductions. Without a plan, enshrined in legislation, which includes strategies such as a carbon trading scheme, how will Australia ever achieve net zero? If Australia ever achieves net zero, it will be by accident and not design.
Never mind what the majority of voters want, and what is good for the economy and what will create future jobs as the world transitions to green energy. Australia could still be "transitioning" in 2050 by opening up more coal mines and gas-fueled power stations. Never mind that climatologists are telling us that the planet is heating faster than predicted and that we have to cut emissions more.
PM Morrison will now go to Glasgow with some credibility, and a 'united' approach on net zero carbon emissions by 2050. But what is the dollar cost to the rest of us of the secretive deal in the Coalition?
Matt Canavan's text message to a Nationals colleague last week was "let's make sure we don't get set up to accept the bare minimum". Presumably, Canavan was referring to being bought off with pork-barreling in National and marginal electorates. It is safe to assume that the Nationals have extracted a good price from their Liberal colleagues for their agreement on net zero. No doubt Mr Morrison is now working on the political spin he will use to try to justify the pork-barreling and placate the rest of us. But Mr Morrison is in no hurry to reveal the details of the pork-barreling deal.
Geoff Black, Caves Beach
Footpath courtesy rings a bell
PERHAPS given the amount of all of the amazing toys now attached to pushbikes there could be one addition to most of these machines: a bell?
I feel sure that most people who walk the Jesmond to New Lambton shared pathway on a regular basis would be in agreement.
It's every man for himself as the lycra-clad loonies furtively sneak up behind and then zoom past at breakneck speeds on their turbo-charged Malvern Stars seeking glory with a stage win in the internationally renowned Tour De Lambton.
No simple ding ding. No enunciated "bike". Just the whoosh of their jetstream as they fly past attempting the world land-speed record on the two-metre wide strip of pavement. Get out of my way!
Cyclists frequently and justifiably bemoan the lack of courtesy shown to them by motorists. Perhaps their credibility would be further enhanced if some courtesy was accorded by cyclists to those even further down the pecking order, old blokes walking their dog? Ding ding.
Michael McEntyre, Lambton
Lock on wood as post-coal boon
BEFORE coal or steel, Newcastle and the region was famed for red cedar. Red gold, worshipped by woodworkers.
The forests were the most southern and helped build much of Sydney.
It is time to consider this magnificent timber again as a great investment for a future when burning coal will be less acceptable .
Carbon credits will be in increasing demand, closing in on 2030
Newcastle's prime export is steaming coal for the electricity generating plants in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan (Port Waratah coal). These countries have yet to advise their post-Glasgow position. It can be assumed that, like most of the world, they will be reducing their reliance on coal.
Should they not, carbon credits could be sought to achieve 2030 targets.
Comprehensive reforesting with red cedar should appeal to these countries, allowing them to continue with Newcastle Anthracite.
Port Waratah coal might like to respond to this suggestion.
Fred Whitaker, Newcastle
Plan is little more than posture
IT is amazing what a nearing climate change conference, and a coming federal election, can bring about.
After years of ignoring climate change and related scientific opinion our government have rushed through a plan concerning reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. The plan, announced by our Prime Minister only days before the start of the climate conference, shows obvious signs of being rushed in its preparation. The 2050 plan made it possible for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to show evidence of having taken action on climate change that he can then take to the climate conference, and, of course, to be ready for the federal election next year.
The net zero greenhouse gases emissions plan contains minimal signs of new policy initiatives It includes, in the main, a rehash of previous climate-related policies that have, to date, led to little action being taken to counter climate change. Mr Morrison has made it clear that the 2050 plan will not be subject to legislation. Many people will find this to be disappointing, but after giving this matter some thought I have come to the conclusion that it is perhaps a blessing in disguise because it may make it easier for future governments.
It is 29 years to 2050, to amend and improve the plan to give it a better chance of reaching its 2050 objectives.
Brian Measday, Myrtle Bank
Market forces beat political ones
THE majority of coalmines in this country are owned by large foreign multinational companies and they and they alone will make the decision when a mine ceases operation, not National Party politicians.
Darryl Tuckwell, Eleebana
SHORT TAKES
WHAT'S the difference between a plan and a roadmap? A plan is where you intend to do something concrete. A roadmap is smoke and mirrors ('Less than zero', Newcastle Herald 27/10).
Peter Moylan, Glendale
I WATCHED the two soccer friendlies between Australia and Brazil and it was great to see all of the Australian soccer team singing along to the Australian national anthem. I think our rugby league team should take note.
Gordon Murray, Kurri Kurri
IN response to John Cooper's letter, (Short Takes, 27/10), which culminated in stating "the biggest polluting countries in the world are laughing all the way to the bank", the biggest polluting country, per head of population, is Saudi Arabia, followed closely by Australia. On world averages, per head of population, we in Australia produce slightly more than three times the amount of greenhouse gases, putting us in this very unenviable position.
Michael Stevenson, Warners Bay
I RUN a business on Bolton Street and because the Supercars block access to Hunter and King streets I am forced to close my cafe for three days as it renders my business pointless. So when they say businesses are for the race I wonder which ones?
Keith Murray, Newcastle
MUCH is being made of the Prime Minister announcing net zero emissions by 2050, but not including the plan on how it will be done. Settle down people, firstly, he believes in miracles, he has stated this. Further from that, he has made the announcement. That is his job, he has done his job.
Fred McInerney, Karuah
AFTER the net zero fiasco in my opinion LNP now stands for Luddite Neanderthal Party.
John Arnold, Anna Bay
CONGRATULATIONS to Ian Kirkwood on his power article, ("Crunching the numbers on energy equation", Opinion, 23/10). It was brilliant, accurate and to the point. I'm now sure that intelligent journalism is not an oxymoron.
Eric Aitchison, North Lambton
IAN Kirkwood's article, ("Crunching the numbers on energy equation", Opinion, 23/10), shines a welcome light on the misinformation regarding solar and batteries. As we all try to move away from coal we must recognise the inability of both these renewables to make a serious and reliable contribution to our energy needs.
Bruce Williams, Merewether
I BELIEVE Keith Pitt's elevation to Cabinet is a disaster for NSW coastal environments as the PEP11 offshore proposal will most assuredly go ahead.
