BRADLEY Perrett is now advocating to have the Norfolk Island pine trees removed from the foreshore, ("We must stop growing a 50-metre harbour hedge", Weekender, 31/7).
Of course as he points out, it obscures the views of the newly ensconced residents in their apartments. Tsk tsk how dare we have trees that obscure their views.
As far as I know the Newcastle foreshore and surrounding areas are there for all of us local citizens as well visitors not for just a select few, for us all to enjoy the beauty of the waterfront foreshore including the great trees and also good to see the numerous birds that inhabit these pines for resting and nesting.
It is also great to see groups of people all throughout the year enjoying a picnic under these great and magnificent trees even if they do originate from Norfolk Island and not a local Indigenous tree.
By the way, Norfolk Island is a part of Australia, Bradley, even though it is a bit off the coast of Australia and until recently administered by NSW, now by Queensland.
It was pleasing to note that it was alright to spare the Norfolk Island pines in King Edward Park from getting the chop. Phew.
Also it is fortunate that Lake Macquarie Council has been spared by Mr Perrett and not requested that they do the same with all of the pines lining the foreshore of the lake, so thank heavens the sea eagles nesting in the pine tree at Speers Point can give a big sigh of relief that they are safe.
Relatives of mine have also said that on a recent trip along the north coast of NSW and Queensland, they observed these great pine trees lining the foreshores of several towns for example Port Macquarie and over the border Burleigh Heads.
Before any criticism of me, and I am sure that there will be, for many years I lived in a high rise in Sydney (on the 14th floor) and I also came back to Newcastle every couple of weeks to stay with my family.
In Sydney I had views towards Sydney harbour, which were somewhat impeded by a lot of very tall trees, or as Mr Perrett labelled them a hedge, however it never caused any concern or distress to myself or other residents of the building that we couldn't see much of the harbour, especially for example the New Years Eve fireworks, no one voiced advocating for the council for their removal or replaced at anytime.
Also, Mr Perrett most major cities are now planting more trees to help the environment, not removing them.
Even Newcastle Permanent has an advertisement that states "helping to plant 25,000 trees".
Trevor Reeve, Charlestown
Voices not being heard
THE Desal Plant Approval is out of step with Newcastle's Green Commitment, ("Belmont Desalination Plant gets approval", Herald, 3/8).
As a member of the community Liaison Group I have attended the meetings with Hunter Water.
These staged controlled meetings have ignored the community who voted recycling and storm water harvesting there top preferred option
There is no reason to build a high energy desalination plant at Belmont.
The Burwood treatment plant discharges into the ocean 50ML/day, of secondary treated waste water, these volumes would fill one Chichester Dam per annum.
There is a project that can harvest all of this this secondary treated water and transfer it viably at 12 cents per kilo litre to the Bayswater Power Station or the Mining sector in exchange for the potable grade water they are using.
I have tried since November 2013 to have this project placed on the table as a water option for consideration.
Hunter Water ran a long campaign, water conservation, save your four buckets, trigger nozzles, etc, yet they are prepared to continue to waste one Chichester Dam per annum to keep this recycling water exchange project off the table because it is more viable, supply's more water, uses less energy and will keep Newcastle on track to honour its green commitment with the Paris Agreement.
The phrase "have your say," is only words. The reality is the community and the CLG have no say.
I am resigning my position as a member of the CLG.
Joseph Taranto, Bellbird Heights
There must be a better site
THE current entry/exit points being considered by the Newcastle Basketball Association. are Waratah Ave and the southern on ramp of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass.
Transport for NSW has already indicated the bow-tie roundabout on Hillsborough Rd will be chaotic if the on ramp to the bypass is used as an entrance.
Currently this entrance is used by a primary school, a special school and an OOSH so if used by Newcastle Basketball it will be an additional danger for the children who use this exit.
Similarly, Waratah Ave was built as a local road where children from Hillsborough school can enter and leave the school. So the traffic from the stadium along here will also endanger the children leaving or entering the school.
When there are special events being held at the school, parking will also be very limited for those parents attending the event, especially if the proposed "no parking" signs are erected in the street.
The "no parking" signs will also mean the residents on Waratah Ave will have their parking taken away from them.
These residents include both senior residents and disabled residents. These residents will be forced to use narrow back streets for parking.
Surely there is vacant land in Lake Macquarie where this stadium can be built other than the current proposed site.
Wendy Marr, Hillsborough
Bill a bitter blow to charities
THE LNP once again reinforce that they are the party that does things to people, not for them with their bill to control what charities can and cannot do and say.
The real definition of free speech, the right to criticise the government of the day, is constantly under attack from conservative governments in Australia.
Charities should not even exist, but sadly, in one of the world's richest nations, they are essential to protecting our environment and individuals suffering from the inequity forced upon them by decades of austerity politics of conservative governments.
It's not surprising or unreasonable then that charities are advocates for protecting their interests, and government policies and decisions are heavily scrutinised and publicly attacked for their faults.
Conservative politicians fear such free speech as it comes from highly credible sources and can cause much political damage to their agenda.
This bill is designed to make charities reluctant to criticise the government for fear of deregulation.
Make no mistake; this bill is entirely designed to protect the political ideology of the LNP.
John Arnold, Anna Bay
SHORT TAKES
CONGRATULATIONS to Lake Macquarie Council on the decision to change the name of Coon Island. A victory for reconciliation, a victory for a cohesive society, a victory for progressive thinking and a victory for common sense.
John Lawton, Belmont
A NEW flag for Australia and our several states as suggested by some correspondents last week? Yes! But dissimilar to the majority of European flags as seen at the Tokyo Olympics - too many consisted of three colours displayed either horizontally or laterally and were, to me, almost indistinguishable. Our new flag should recognise our Indigenous people and unique characteristics of Australia from both flora and fauna. And let's also have a dual flag system for those such as former military personnel, who may wish to be buried under the present flag until the demand is no more.
Brian Roach, Whitebridge
EVERYONE knows it's a race to get vaccinated. It's our way out of lockdowns. The Labor Party wants payments for getting the jab. Simon Birmingham has dismissed the idea because it sounds like a plan. The Morrison government should be considering all incentives instead of disengaging.
John Butler, Windella
I AM 100 per cent sure Scott Morrison should have been a weatherman, because they are the only ones that can get it wrong every day and still keep their job.
Glen Cox, Fullerton Cove
IF ever there was a time to justify the container terminal in Newcastle, it's now. Almost all of our produce is coming out of hotspots in Sydney. Talk about putting all our eggs in one basket. A container terminal here would help stop the spread from Sydney.
William Pryce, New Lambton
THE stupidity of panic buying is going to be a super-spreading event for sure. People's logic defies common sense. There's a deadly disease spreading through the community. Hey, I think I'll go to stock up on toilet paper and stand in a confined space with thousands of others whose bum care is the most important thing in life. Idiots.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
I HAD the pleasure of interviewing Bernie Curran on 2NUFM for the Uni of Newcastle anniversary. He struck me as one of life's treasures. Down to earth, wise, fair and funny. He spoke of his love for the uni that was born out of a need to educate steelworkers' children locally rather than send them to Sydney or beyond. He was everything we can be proud of and we are richer for him. What a tragic irony that the people of the Hunter are now being denied vaccinations at this time, so that children can be educated in Sydney.
