PHILLIP O'Neill's column regarding our region's glorious sand resources is a timely reminder of what can be lost over time but not necessarily perceived as lost until it is all too late, ("Industrial sand mining no harmless harvest", Opinion, 5/7).
Old timers may still talk of the Dixon Park sand dunes quickly depleted and removed in our lifetime, and the coloured raffle tickets dispensed upon payment for subsequent loading.
I'm a sandman. We've seen the obliteration of the famous Kurnell sand dunes in our lifetime. Modern life demands sand.
If we want to retain at least some of the ancient and very active dunes from Stockton to Tomaree, then we will need to mark out the limits for urban residential encroachment, as much as we will need to deliver a real circular economy that maximises re-use and innovative re-manufactured sands. Otherwise we will see all our sand go to Sydney within the lifetime of our children.
A balance must be struck now. O'Neill is correct to point out the dangers of complacency, in my view.
Dayne Steggles, Merewether
Swipe for successs
YOU go around shopping centres or hospitals and still notice people having issues with logging in to the QR code stations, whether it be because of their phone type, various QR code suppliers or trying to follow the confusing log-in instructions.
As it sounds like masks are here to stay, then how about swipe cards for individuals are issued, with your details on the chip? This would eliminate all the problems and confusion, most clubs already use this system with great success.
Many would say I'm not giving my personal information to the government, I'm sorry to tell you that they already have all your information. It's not like the proposed Australia card they tried to introduce years ago. It should only have your name, address and possible immunisation status displayed.
This method would expedite your entry into all venues including sport, entertainment, hospital areas, and give the health authorities a better system to track possible COVID transmissions.
It would also protect you and the general public from possible infections. A simpler but more efficient location identification system. Let's plan for the future not be in an uncontrolled uncertain world.
Graeme Kime, Cameron Park
Recycling plan for panels
IN response to Bruce Brander ("Renewables not reliable", Letters, 7/7) the issue of recycling of solar panels is well recognised by the solar industry. Solar panels can be 100 per cent recycled as they contain valuable raw materials that are easily recovered.
A new solar panel recycling plant opened in Melbourne in May, a plant is under construction at Lonsdale in South Australia, with one planned in Brisbane. A detailed and comprehensive recycling plan has been submitted to the federal government by the Clean Energy Council, with the recycling costs paid by the solar suppliers and installers.
The government has not responded, instead the Environment Minister issued a press release warning of "a landfill nightmare". The waste recycling industry has made a separate submission on recycling solar panels, no response.
At least the Victorian government has shown leadership by introducing a ban on the disposal of panels in landfill. Solar panels were first developed in Australia, and we are still leading the world in research to develop more efficient panels.
As this research flows through to new and better panels, the old ones are retired, and can be 100 per cent recycled. We need the federal government to show some leadership and help to develop an efficient recycling process. Just imagine, we could lead the world by developing the best recycling technology, and make money by exporting our expertise worldwide.
Bruce Graham, Warners Bay
Coal needed to keep lights on
MICHAEL Hinchey ("Coal comfort is just complacency", Letters, 5/7) took exception when Dr Day said ("Coal backlash may be premature", Letters, 28/6), "we can't swing our civilisation green, not yet" - which was a reference to the continuing need for coal-fired power stations as renewables are not yet up to the task.
Dr Day's statement is correct and it is backed up by Mr Cronshaw's article ("Power prices fall, renewables rise", Herald, 3/7). This article quoted from a recent report from the Australian Energy Regulator which said that 19 per cent of our electricity comes from renewables while 70 per cent is from coal and gas.
During the past 20 years there has been a concerted effort to build wind and solar farms but in 2021 they only provide 19 per cent of our electricity. Over the next 10 years NSW is going to lose all of its coal-fired power stations which provide 70 per cent of our electricity. Can wind and solar replace the 70 per cent void left by coal?
In the past 20 years NSW has built 3000 hectares of solar farms. If we were to replace our ageing power stations with just solar we would need to build, in the next 10 years, 100,000 hectares of solar farms. A physical impossibility.
As Dr Day said "we can't swing our civilisation green ... yet." It will take four or five decades to do so and in the meantime we need several 'state of the art' coal-fired power stations to keep the lights on.
Robert Monteath, Newcastle
University council's process
AIMEE Mehan and Sinead Francis-Coan's portrayal of the University of Newcastle's selection process for the Chancellor and Council appointments contains a number of factual errors, which need to be corrected ("Uni reset a chance to fill gaps in expertise", Herald, 7/7).
The appointment of the Chancellor did not come down to "the smaller nomination and governance committee". The process was managed by a separate Chancellor selection committee. Details of the process are set out on our website. The incumbent Chancellor did not sit on this committee.
The authors suggest that requirements for council appointments are mainly focused on financial and commercial expertise and neglect other important considerations. This is untrue. The criteria for council appointments, set out in our council charter, are broad and the selection process comprehensive, seeking wide-ranging skills and experience including corporate governance, regulatory compliance, risk oversight, stakeholder management and networking.
The council comprises 16 members drawn from the community, industry, professional and academic staff and the student body, who together contribute a diverse range of experiences, knowledge, connections and viewpoints.
Full and correct information on process and governance in relation to Chancellor and council selection processes is set out on the university's website for the purpose of transparency for all of our stakeholders.
Dianne Allen, University Secretary
Family says thank you
I'M writing to express my deep gratitude to everyone across NSW who supported The Smith Family's 2021 Winter Appeal. Times of uncertainty can make giving difficult, but our supporters have demonstrated a level of generosity that we've found truly humbling.
Our vision is to create a better future for young Australians in need, and we launched our appeal with a warning that the fallout from COVID-19 continues to impact the lives of vulnerable children and young people.
Not only are we concerned the pandemic has exacerbated the education gap between the one in six Australian children living in poverty and their more advantaged peers, but we're also really worried that many families we support say they're struggling to cope with the ongoing repercussions of COVID-19.
Key areas of concern - including a housing affordability crisis, a lack of suitable employment opportunities and the digital divide - are compounding, and affecting families' wellbeing. This often flows on to negatively impact on their children's educational journeys.
During tough times, The Smith Family's out-of-school learning and mentoring programs help keep children engaged in their schooling and on-track to complete Year 12. And thanks to the tremendous generosity shown towards our Appeal, The Smith Family will be able to support more than 15,000 additional students with our evidence-based educational programs. These include student2student, which helps schoolchildren improve their reading by pairing them with older buddies, and our after-school Learning Clubs.
Our programs equip students with essential skills. They open young people's eyes to future study and career opportunities and encourage them to pursue their dreams. So to everyone who contributed to our appeal to help the next generation of young Australians thrive, I say thank you.
Judy Barraclough, acting chief executive officer, The Smith Family
SHORT TAKES
WHO are the people who signed off on Origin III to be played in Newcastle, before our vaccination hub is even opened? We have a right to know the chain of names who are prepared to place our region at unacceptable risk. The game should be cancelled immediately.
Sophia Campbell, Dudley
PLEASE do not bring the potential health threat of the State of Origin match to Newcastle. Do we really care that it is costing the league millions of dollars in lost revenue? I don't. Please think of the cost to families from outside threats to the health of Newcastle residents.
Elaine Mascord, Lambton
THE latest COVID restrictions extended to July 16 have got me baffled. You can go to the State of Origin game in Newcastle on the 14th with 20,000 other spectators and yet you can't have any more than five visitors in your home to watch the game. Another hypocritical decision by the NSW government but it seems money in the coffers is overriding common sense.
Neil Meyers, Warners Bay
LET'S all face facts; The complete eradication of coronavirus is a mere fantasy. We're simply going to have to learn to live with it. End of story.
David Davies, Blackalls Park
LOCKDOWN in Sydney - is the government serious? Starting so late in the resurgence. Having shops open adds to the confusion. The government has ignored the experiences of other states leading to the likelihood of an even longer lockdown.
John Butler, Windella
TO Bruce Brander and other climate change sceptics, the meaning of baseload power is the minimum amount of electricity a coal-fired power station needs to generate before it has to be turned off. It's not the minimum amount of power it takes to run the country. A lack of research is common amongst sceptics. Please do the bare minimum before you voice your opinions, otherwise you just look unwise. The tide has turned renewables are the future, or we have no future.
Dan Kirkpatrick, Karuah
IF we are to be classed as regional by the Premier and government departments for COVID purposes, can someone please explain to the people why we are still not entitled to the travel allowance? Seems that it depends on which department is making the call.
John Bradford, Beresfield
At the time of writing, our esteemed PM hasn't made a public appearance in five days. This comes after his sojourn in the UK and then two weeks in quarantine. He'll go down as the greatest dodger of responsibility and accountability in Australian history.
