THE recent announcement in the story "$6.5m bid to soften station's brutal facade" (Herald, 29/10), was short on detail but potentially could have grave ramifications.
The station was a design by the NSW government architect, with Tony Taussig as the project architect. It was designed, documented and constructed between 1975 and 1982 with local builder Stronach winning the tender.
The building is regarded as a fine example of the Brutalist movement which was at its height between the post-war era to the late 1980s. 'Le Corbusier' is famous for his Brutalist designs and in Australia key practitioners were Ancher, Mortlock, Murray & Woolley; John Andrews; Cameron, Chisholm & Nicol; Edwards, Madigan & Torzillo; Harry Seidler; to name a few.
The Newcastle police station has been used in the book "Identifying Australian Architecture" to highlight the style keys of the Brutalist design.
The Minister for Police is correct in his assessment that "Newcastle is an historic town ..." however this 38-year-old iconic building adds to the historic themes found throughout the city. Attempts to alter the external appearance in other than a quality clean or minor alteration may result in creating more issues than are currently of concern.
Police have never been happy with the internal design of the building which includes voids through the building to allow natural light into its centre. The building should be photographically recorded before any changes are made so a record of its original design and use is archived.
The buildings external cast-in-situ concrete walls with a bush hammered finish were a marvellous feature when new but years of dust, dirt and grime have left the building in a sorry state of repair as admitted by the minister.
Carefully cleaning the building with the right chemicals and soft bristle brushes will allow much of its original patina to be reinstated. It must be said that the Sydney Police Centre in Surry Hills is a larger building in a Brutalist design with bush hammered concrete walls (1975-1987).
Let's not waste public money on changing this iconic building because of its looks, but rather spend the money on external cleaning and internal refurbishment to achieve the minister's requirements for a safe, welcoming and more accommodating environment.
John Carr, Toronto
Population and pressure
THE ongoing internal wrangling within the government overreaching net zero emissions is portrayed by the Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce as a way of achieving a fair outcome for rural people.
He does have a point, unemployment in rural regions is far higher than in cities, especially for young people and they are less likely to have access to education facilities like TAFE that had its funding cut by his government.
Politicians are loath to mention that European countries can close coal mines and power stations without loss of employment because unlike us they still have a manufacturing industry.
Nor does our Deputy Prime Minister admit that there are a great many employment opportunities which are described as being inhibited by worker shortages, some of which will be addressed by the NSW government's plan to import 55,000 Pacific Islander workers.
This worker shortage is a fallacy created by low wages that have failed to keep up with the cost of living especially from rents.
Despite this, the federal government, with apparently the agreement of Labor and the Greens, has promised to return to the pre-pandemic levels of immigration of almost a quarter of a million per annum which are designed to boost house prices and thus raise GDP.
It's a cynical policy which will grow our population by 2.2 million by 2030, put immense strain on the housing market and based on present figures add about 216 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Don Owers, Dudley
Don't change the baths
I THANK the Friends of Newcastle Ocean Baths' opinion article, ("Protecting a priceless place for the people", Opinion, 26/10), for the honest summary of serious threats facing us and the real risk to the baths' unique culture.
I cannot understand why Newcastle council refuses to discuss and resolve with FONOB Inc, the genuine problems of heritage listing and the concrete bottom.
I was one of the more than 16,000 citizens who signed a petition opposing the privatisation of Newcastle's ocean baths. I am also a long-time wader who gains significant physical, mental and social benefits from its regular use.
I certainly don't want it to end up being like the larger pool at the Merewether baths with its bonus lice infestations.
Newcastle baths is very different and should remain that way.
This comment is in no way meant to demean Merewether, but simply draw attention to the different locations and demographics.
It seems we have a council more interested in servicing the demands of the commercial business lobby to profit at the real expensive of the many existing and future users, tourists and families.
I believe spending around $1.5m on a smooth concrete bottom is a sheer waste of ratepayers' money and will threaten the ability of us waders to walk on uninterrupted soft sand.
If council really wants to save money, then leaving the bottom of the pool the way it is and has been for a century seems the better option.
I and most other users would really welcome some transparency and commitment that in stage 2, commercialisation is not the primary focus.
No more slick talk, just let's get on and achieve that goal.
Narelle Nelson, Maryville
Together we can
ALLAN Searant says it's "not up to the supplier to sacrifice their economy in the name of climate change but the "responsible" customer/nation to make the noble decision", ("Making the noble decision", Letters, 2/11).
This sounds like the drug dealer argument or that used by tobacco companies.
Australia is blessed with clean green renewable energy that can replace its fossil fuel exports over time.
It doesn't need to "sacrifice" its economy.
Australia, and the world, just need political will and a real plan and commitment to make it happen over the next two or three decades.
As David Attenborough said when opening COP26 "If working apart we can destabilise our planet, then working together we are powerful enough to save it. Our eyes are on world leaders to make commitments at COP26 that will do this".
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
SHORT TAKES
IT is hilarious to watch the new traffic flow and the way people park as they search for their designated shop at the Kotara Homemaker Centre. It was much easier crossing the road in the 80s.
Bryn Roberts, New Lambton
T'WAS a good letter from Fred Sanders (Letters, 6/11). Yes, the harbour was a very busy place in the 1940s and 1950s. I can still remember the fuel ships berthing at the Tree of Knowledge. If young Raymond Dineen moved from New Lambton to the city centre in those days, he might have something to complain about.
Les Field, Wickham
I STRUGGLE to understand the fuss over the submarine deal. In one act we have managed to secure nuclear attack submarines for the RAN and upset the French. Surely this is a win on both counts?
Scott Hillard, New Lambton
THE first major party to control the price of fuel, has my vote.
John Levick, Adamstown
BETTER to stroke an old tree than pat it on the bark, for it will be here when we are not.
Dave Wilson, Bar Beach
IF someone finds Mr Macron's dummy, could they soak it in truffle oil before they return it? He needs it urgently.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
ONE would have to agree with Chris Peters' assessment of our PM. A man out of his depth and out of his time. A PM with no ambition or vision for Australia's future, now characterised as a renowned liar. Merde!
Mac Maguire, Charlestown
YES Deb Gadd (Short Takes, 5/11), you are right. There is nothing more "ex" than an ex-Prime Minister, especially one that was dumped by his/her own party while in office. Also they go looking for opportunities to offer unwanted advice, although to his credit Howard will only comment if asked.
Doug Hoepper, Garden Suburb
I'M not sure Denise Lindus Trummel, ("Data can only tell us so much", Letters, 30/10), but perhaps the data produced regarding the analysis of the Newcastle 500 should be questioned. I can't say I'm 100 per cent certain about this, but I definitely don't believe it would be the first time that questionable data was used by a very small handful of people to determine how thousands of Novocastrians are entertained. Just look at the noise restrictions placed on live music venues, prohibitive liquor licensing conditions, and the lockout laws.
Adz Carter, Newcastle
FOLLOWING the Prime Minister's advice that citizens should do their own research into any medical procedure they may or may not choose to be subject to, Australia has arrived at a sad place when a law-abiding citizen is threatened with fines and detained in their own property for an undetermined period for exercising their rights under Commonwealth law to reject a procedure which they do not approve of.
