TO say I'm disappointed with the Newcastle Knights would be an understatement.
Jarrod Mullen has completely turned his life around after what I'm sure was a serious lapse in judgment which led him down a path most thought he could never come back from.
During the past four years he has committed himself 100 per cent to rehabilitation, health, fitness and family. Jarrod has found his rightful path once again and expressed his desire (and availability) to return to his much-loved home town and club.
When Jarrod respectfully accepted his four-year ban, Knights CEO Phil Gardner said that they would support him when his time was up.
Now that time has come, where is that support? The Knights have publicly stated that there is no position for him. All I can say is, what better role model is there to support the many troubled league players these days?
Here is a humble man, wearing his heart on his sleeve ready to support and mentor younger players.
Given his impeccable state of health and fitness, he'd probably even give them a run for their money on the field. Let's give Mullo another go!
Renata Pepper, New Lambton
Politics' race to the bottom
GIVEN all the publicity recently regarding pork barrelling in swinging seats, what occurs in seats the current government feels they can't win?
It's clear they are often overlooked when the cash is splashed. But could it be worse? Are these the seats the government chooses for unpopular proposals? Is this what happened when the NSW government under Baird needed to find a new home for Supercars - a race that had become a problem for his government when it was held at Homebush. Why not dump it in Newcastle, a safe Labor seat? No worries if it's unpopular! Even better, Newcastle had no advocate to fight against this proposal to argue that racing so close to residential homes is neither fair nor safe. A gullible local council signed the deal before any consultation. They didn't even ask for a business case. And with no true understanding of the costs, they rolled over to the state government.
Local residents did their homework and found it was a poisoned chalice. They lobbied hard to have the race moved to a more appropriate location, but state politicians couldn't care less, and correspondence to Gladys, Ayres, Marshall and other ministers goes unanswered. Meanwhile, Wagga was wooed because the party had more to gain.
I wonder how Dom feels about subjecting children and families to the noise levels experienced by those living on the track? We all know a purpose-built track could be built if funding was made available for worthy projects rather than to garner favour.
Keran Davis, Newcastle
Event is the pits for residents
NO wonder trust in this council is at such a low level. All we get is spin. This council has commissioned, at great cost to the ratepayers, two reports into the benefits of Supercars, both of which they nobbled by not allowing any costs to be included. The first one by the HRF Centre, analysed by an independent expert, was shown to overstate the benefits by over 50 per cent.This latest one by Ernst and Young no doubt reported exactly what the council asked for and ratepayers paid for.
Despite previously voting unanimously for a Cost Benefits Analysis the council now says it is too hard. Really? I think we know why it is too hard. Previous Auditor General reports on this event have shown the benefits to be exaggerated and the costs underestimated.
Despite what the council says, they have done nothing that lessens the negative impacts of this race to the residents.
Maybe the council can talk to Supercars and ask them to stop harassing those residents who refuse to accept that they have to get a pass from Supercars, a private company, to gain access to their own home whilst this event takes place. That's a negative aspect.
Part five of Supercars mitigation measures against hearing damage during the race was to tell residents to leave home during the race. That's a negative aspect and there are lots more. Too many to list here.
Do our councillors really think this is acceptable? What has happened to Labor in this town?
John Hudson, Newcastle East
The height of arrogance
SAGE Swinton has asked some revealing questions about practices in the planning and development department at LMCC, ("Density through roof", Herald, 1/11).
It's now apparent that, for some time, our Lake council has been pushing the envelope on the proposed NSW government changes regarding infill housing and especially building heights. They admit that these approvals are being significantly driven by the fees they charge for these applications.
The NSW state government is not innocent either, whilst making the Newcastle City area less user friendly, they now seem to be moving their focus to our easy living lake area.
Additionally I'm unimpressed by the suggestion that we are not able to understand the background to these changes and his explaining away the decision making that has previously been facilitated by this department.
Of course, there is the practice of certified planners, validated by our state as well to shoulder at least some of the blame?
I concur with Dave Byrnes about the likely unsuitability of some approvals. Poll statistics seem to indicate that residents don't want higher buildings impacting on their ambience or solar access.
Complicating all of this is the determined attitude at LMCC not to hear anyone about their development concerns, even prior to COVID-19! It required registered mail to the CEO for me to get any direct answers.
Finally, where are our elected representatives in this equation?
I tried to get my concerns re the height issue heard but unfortunately useful nothing ensued. I believed I was the one being cut down to size?
Angela Longworth, Speers Point
A 'hole' lot of work needed
TALK about goat tracks in Fern Bay, John Bonnyman, ("Motorists missing out for bikes", Letters, 1/11) you have my utmost sympathy.
Newcastle Council is just as guilty in its maintenance of roads out in the wild west 'burbs of "Newy". Out my way, King St, Waratah West, to be precise, is a veritable goat track. In some areas the grass is growing through the crumbling road surface.
I know the council is pushing for applications for sidewalk gardens, but pretty soon we will be able to have a veggie garden on the road.
I am tempted to buy some white spray paint to highlight the massive potholes that almost swallow my ancient Volkswagen, but I am afraid I don't have the funds to buy out Bunnings.
Please Newcastle Council, can you please fix this dirt track up with some of the excess funds you constantly talk about having. Maybe you can throw a bit of cash to the long suffering Fern Bay residents as well.
Tony Morley, Waratah
SHORT TAKES
THE reduction in GP Access After Hours funding is a disgrace. Staff hours in all four clinics are being reduced and one clinic the Calvary Mater is being closed from January 1 next year, with federal government funding continuing but state government funding being reduced from $559,000 in 2020, $105,000 in 2021 and zero in 2022. ED presentations will increase, particularly in the Lake Macquarie area where the Toronto and Belmont clinics are being halved on the weekends. It is the only free medical service with a triage phone service with clinic appointments. Shame on you, state government.
Jane Bennett, Mount Hutton
PAUL Scott's opinion piece ("It's not cool; great Newcastle traffic crawl a hot mess", Opinion, 1/11) was good at highlighting car congestion at Newcastle beaches, but short on the solutions to this long-standing problem. I suggest paid parking could pave the way to making the tram free to get bums on seats and cars off the road for starters.
Alan Hamilton, Hamilton East
AFTER reading Paul Scott's article in the Herald about lack of public toilets on and around Foreshore I have to agree there are none, so my grandchildren wouldn't make it anywhere before an unfortunate accident would occur. My suggestion for the council is to make the developments along the Foreshore include public toilets in their buildings, supplied and serviced by them, as they are making millions out of our area and not giving anything back to our community. Come on council, be more proactive.
Alan Higgins, Newcastle West
I DON'T care what anyone says. The keep to the left rule gives carte blanche to speedy dangerous drivers. The rule legitimises their angry ruthless actions on the road.
Carol Selmeci, Murrays Beach
IT'S unfortunate hearing-impaired people can't watch Channel 9 news as most of the time the subtitles disappear. I've now tuned into Channel 7 as their subtitles are on continuously. Anyone else have this problem?
Val Patfield, Redhead
SO there is a global shortage of shipping containers. Why can't we (Australia) manufacture containers and supply the world with the much needed commodity?
Stan Keifer, Arakoon
I FEEL Mark Zuckerberg is a cheeky sod. He has launched the new name for his Facebook entity by stealing our ABC's Lissajous logo. I wonder if ABC can sue Zuckerberg for breach of copyright.
Les Field, Wickham
IT is interesting that the Australian media represents the French submarine deal as being $90 billion when the original quote was in fact $45 billion. What reporter would honour a deal to build a house if the builder at the last minute doubled their quote?
