With great interest I read Jade Lazarevic's article, "Behind the design of Quay Project" (Newcastle Herald, 25/5), regarding the announcement of DOMA's plans for the remainder of the Honeysuckle Foreshore. I read the list of architectural companies that worked together on this development.
When I viewed the accompanying rendered images, I was truly disappointed. We have enough buildings that are basically rectangular prisms. When checking some of these companies' websites, their portfolios show the rectangular prism is their stock standard unit of design with, in my opinion, little variation. There are other 3D shapes and other ways to use rectangular prisms. Newcastle deserves better. This is to be the focus for becoming "the centre of the city".
I was hoping for bold and creative architecture as of the building on the corner of King Street and Stewart Avenue and UoN Nuspace. As to the 15-year timeline, it keeps pace with our 'escargot rouge' light rail. I recommend the architectural companies involved return to their drawing boards and DOMA review how the delivery of Newcastle Quay can be hastened.
Thank you Peter Davias (Letters, 28/5), for summing up, very well, the stadium situation. To add my two cents, I have a grandson who plays rep basketball for the under 12s Falcons and is hoping to represent for years to come. I have played pickleball there many times and have first-hand experience of persistent leaks delaying or cancelling sessions as a result of the aging roof. This is not about providing a basketball stadium but a first-class indoor facility suitable for a variety of sports. In response to concerns about losing outdoor venues, I also have grandchildren playing soccer and there is a multitude of fields in both Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
There is already plenty of "green space" for outdoor activities. How many indoor stadiums are there? I find it annoying that reference is made to congestion in the Broadmeadow vicinity. The current stadium is a stone's throw away from the proposed one so the traffic issues are not a new problem and only occur at limited times. Commuting to work in peak hour in general traffic presents far wider and worse congestion.
There will be concerns from residents wherever a new stadium is placed but this stadium is to assist in improving our health and wellbeing. Please let's get behind the stadium before this rare opportunity is lost and our children's sporting dreams become that much harder to achieve.
Following the council's endorsement of a Mayoral Minute, there appears little reason to continue with the imposition of leased licensed premises at our iconic Newcastle Ocean Baths. The latest (but by no means fixed) price tag of stage 2 of the baths' redevelopment provides 40 million good reasons why this vanity project, including air-conditioned licenced premises, should be rescinded. Councillors must be aware of more urgent and meritorious projects in their wards to wisely spend $40 million of ratepayers' funds. Do we need a licensed white elephant at the eastern end of Newcastle by the precarious sea, when it is surrounded by other licensed cafes and function centres? This proposal tramples on the concepts of the 'public interest', transparency and impartiality.
The proposed commercial licensed venues will devour around 25 per cent of the existing public space, including our open-air heritage protected change rooms. The CEO is requesting the minister's consent to permit commercial leasing on this public recreation site, putting the cart before the horse when 98 per cent of submissions opposed the proposed cafe lease, raising concerns about commercialisation and alcohol. The adoption of the mayoral minute by all councillors has important symbolic and transformative practical advantages. It confirms a refreshing willingness to listen and prioritise the community's interest, over previous dominant private commercial and opaque demands.
Pat Conroy said there is a "huge global demand" for missiles and the fuel crisis demonstrated the importance of being "first in line" (Newcastle poised to become missile manufacturing powerhouse", Herald, 19/5). The fuel "crisis" - isn't the illegal action by two powers armed to the teeth with the world's most advanced weaponry causing that? That unholy duo have crossed every human red line. They kill at will. They label as Hamas or terrorists or drug runners the health workers, journalists, babies, unarmed civilians they kill. They reign supreme because there are no political or economic consequences. The promise of unmatched lethality is an absolute power. It has left the orbit of humanity, and serves only itself. It doesn't need peace. Mr Conroy claims making rockets will "replace the automotive sector ... we lost a decade ago as the bedrock of Aussie manufacturing". A bedrock is stable. Unlike weapons, industries based on renewables are not riddled with dirty secrets. They are premised on a liveable future. As Doug Hewitt argues (Letters, 27/5), peace is achieved through diplomacy and dialogue. Not weapons.
The headline "Bath top-up: Newcastle CEO to get pay rise after closed-door council vote" (Newcastle Herald, 28/5), reminded me of the song Behind Closed Doors by Charlie Rich. A bit rich indeed for an already extremely well-remunerated Mr Bath.
If, as Peter Mullins' letter suggests, the pen is mightier than the sword, perhaps he could pen a quick "cease and desist" message to Netanyahu (Letters, 28/5). Not content with obliterating life and limb in Gaza, he now intends to do the same in Lebanon. All with complete impunity, it seems.
How pathetic Ponga not being suspended for his shoulder charge to the head. Well done to the ref for taking action. The NRL again shows it doesn't care about players' welfare by not suspending Ponga when the player he hit will miss at least 11 days. Ponga should have got at least four weeks.
The "snakes and ladders budgets" started with the Howard government's theistic approach to business (Letters, 28/5). Though, to be fair, the Hawke and Keating governments set the situation up for him. The wealth gap has widened for two decades and has nothing to do with age, but where one sits in the economy. This is indisputable.
National news stated the police were to blame for the two shooters at the Bondi massacre because they ignored the intel passed on about the two shooters. How about: none of this would have happened if this government had snipped all the anti-Semitism at the beginning, on the steps of the Opera House and on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in protest marches by Palestinian terrorist supporters, which this government supported, and ignored the clear warning signs. The buck stops here.
