THE disappearance of sand on beaches at Merewether Beach, Bar Beach and Stockton will only become more frequent as global warming sets in, ("History repeats itself", Newcastle Herald 28/8).
Whereas Merewether and Bar Beach are underlain by rock, Stockton is entirely sand. In time, sand will return naturally to Merewether and Bar Beach but not to Stockton. Without sea defences, the sand will be removed permanently from Stockton and the beach will disappear, along with roads and houses.
Geoff Black, Caves Beach
Why kill trees
A TREE poisoner is sitting at home now ("Trees on shared pathway between Warners Bay and Speers Point poisoned in 'deliberate' and 'callous' attack", Herald 25/8). No doubt they are enjoying the notoriety and anonymity of it all. They have won a wretched victory.
I know how it happened because it has happened to my trees. There is a drill involved and a bottle of poison. A hole is drilled into the lower trunk, poison administered then the hole plugged. This is all done when no one is around, probably at night.
More doses of poison are administered until the trees have no hope of recovery. No more greenery. No more homes for birds and insects. No more shade. No more oxygen being pumped out. A shift to the Nullarbor is the answer for those who have a dislike of trees.
Julie Robinson, Cardiff
Mines can be a wildlife haven
A CHEAP shot at mining from a vet with vested interest in the farming and agriculture sector, Ronny Eidels, ("One chance to stop wildlife extinction", Opinion, 26/8).
A mining wag once calculated the surface area for all the mines in Australia and found it was less than the surface area of all pub car parks in Australia. The Department of Agriculture website states 0.02 per cent of Australia's landmass is used for mining and 59.69 per cent for agriculture. The figures speak for themselves on which industry has the greater impact on biodiversity.
Mines are a wildlife haven. Areas not being mined on the lease don't have kangaroo or pig shooters running rampant and are a haven for native animals chased off adjacent farming land. Every mine I have been involved with was awash with wildlife in the areas not being mined. Mines must purchase offsets, which cannot be used for agriculture, to balance the mining disturbed land. Often land purchased is agricultural land which is returned to natural habitat in which native animal species thrive.
Mining and agriculture are the only primary industries because they have both been around from the beginning of mankind and will be around to the end of mankind. Both industries are interdependent and will be the mainstays of our economy forever. Farmers cannot farm without using products of mining and miners cannot mine without sustenance from agriculture. We must work together to solve our problems. Uninformed and emotive finger pointing is not conducive to solving our mutual challenges.
Joe Clayton, The Hill
Leaders must be front and centre
NEWCASTLE is the second city in NSW. Tim Crakanthorp and Sharon Claydon are to be commended for their Facebook updates. If indeed, we are the second city, I have to say that Taylor Martin, MLC seems to be missing in action. His parliamentary website lists him as Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter and the Cost of Living. In the last seven weeks of lockdown I can't recall him being at the 11am television press briefings or even giving interviews to journalists. So what I want to know is, how interested is the Parliamentary Secretary in the Hunter? The cost of living part of his portfolio should have him actively involved in Newcastle families and businesses who are suffering. What does he have to say?
Peter Trenbath, Newcastle
Answers due on Afghan delays
WE need to commend all who serve and have served in our military. There are constraints on them that cause them grief at our government's policies.
As a civilian daughter of a past RAAF crew from World War II who suffered anxiety for all his life post service, my interest in planes remains. We have several huge cargo planes capable of landing on Kabul airport runways, indeed the US air force is using these very planes. They are 53 metres long, capable of moving 1000 troops in normal circumstances. We use the beautiful, reliable Hercules with a normal capacity of 128 passengers.
Any confusion as to our politicians' motives to relocate our friendly Afghan translators and support staff is hard to fathom. We heard the warnings of those who worked with these folk for years needed to be addressed months ago. We go to countries again and again to improve the lives of others. Our men and women in service live through this and we listen not at all.
Are we surprised that suicide rates in their ranks are extreme? Do we give them the support they need when they leave service?
Be very grateful for those service people that are working in our communities with COVID relief. Are we ever going to call our leaders to answer for their choices?
Lyn Rendle, Rankin Park
Lifeline - 13 11 10
Vaccine priorities matter to young
WITH the limit of vaccines, with the number of people unable to get vaccinated, why are the younger people being targeted?
Surely the lives of people between 20 and 40 are more important than the education of young people. I know of 10 people in the 20 to 40 age group who can't book in before December. When looking at the statistics of who is mainly being affected with the delta version it seems that the 20 to 40 years old are higher than the other age groups.
Kate Bow, Wallsend
HSC decision will hurt students
I CALL on the NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell to stand down over the management of the HSC and Friday's changes. Clearly the government has failed to manage the Covid cases. Now the decision to continue exams feels like HSC students are being used as pawns to justify taking vaccines away from communities like Wilcannia.
As a parent of a year 12 student, I do not believe students should remain in school longer than normal. Students are prepared to complete their exams now and move on. Their time at school is over. This delay negatively impacts them emotionally, educationally and financially.
I also personally know of the negative impacts on individuals. International students who had flights booked to return home after two years abroad now can't. My own daughter had a job lined up for later November which she cannot start. The decision to delay the HSC has implications. I don't believe the needs of the students have been considered.
Greg Adamson, Griffith
SHORT TAKES
AS a Lake Macquarie resident who has been a sometime critic of the local council (for example, regarding the Toronto Foreshore Plan), I have pleasure in giving Kay Fraser and her council a big pat on the back for keeping their workers safe and fully informed about the COVID virus. As a parent of a council worker I am very grateful for the diligence that has been shown.
Name and suburb withheld
THERE have been high praises recently by politicians and relayed through news outlets here and elsewhere for people in this region keeping the positive COVID results low to zero, as reported on Thursday 26 August. Who on earth are they kidding? If the Hillsborough Road testing station is anything to go by, very limited numbers are now being tested. I truly hope I'm wrong but I suspect we are being fed a load of you know what.
Garry Scow, Warners Bay
I THINK the real reason that Gladys and Barilaro have extended the lock in northern NSW is they know they can't stop people leaving Sydney to travel north due to their Clayton's lock down.
William Pryce, New Lambton
THE injustice of the action taken by 13CABS towards driver Hughie Williams is breathtaking! ("Taxi driver cops punishment", Herald, 26/8). The company makes a policy, the driver observes the policy, the driver is punished. How come? The partial attempt at explanation by the company spokesman is in my opinion puerile. There would be many company cabs able to transport passengers who need more room without having to be seated in the front seat. If Mr Williams had breached the policy, caught COVID and started a cluster, he would have been castigated and likely disowned.
Louis Pirona, Blackalls Park
AFGHANISTAN is the greatest war calamity since Hitler invaded Russia. But business has been good for arms dealers and its shareholders for the past 20 years in Afghanistan. Politicians will spin the story to suit the political requirements of the day, with a little help from war ally America.
Richard Ryan, Summerland Point
ACCORDING to Steve Barnett, (Short Takes, 26/8), Lygon Street in Melbourne seems to be the only street suffering from the COVID lockdowns. I'm sure there are a lot more business owners all over the country who would disagree with you. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I am pretty sure that the so-called powers to be have been saying that this pandemic is affecting the whole country. How can a mere mortal like me argue with that?
Barry Reed, Islington
JOINING the chorus, where is NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns, who we're paying for?
