Letters to the editor December 1 2018

I was evacuated from my house on Rookes Road at Salt Ash on Saturday morning. I, along with a hundred other people, found refuge at Paul's Corner. The firies, along with members of the NSW Police force, could not have been more caring. After waiting and waiting, not knowing what to think, the roads were opened and we were allowed to leave. I was not ready for what confronted me. The bush opposite my home was now a blackened wasteland. I cried when I saw it and yet felt so relieved that it had not crossed the road and destroyed my home. 

Thanks to the firefighters who do such a marvellous job. What would we do without them? From the bottom of my aching heart, I thank you.

REGARDING the proposal for a Lake Macquarie CBD (‘New push to create a CBD for the Lake’, Herald, 23/11) the only "identity crisis" we suffer from is the fairytale invented by our local council that Lake Macquarie is a city. Obviously, we are not a city and we do not want a CBD. This ridiculous idea is just grandstanding by our local representatives. If they want a bigger stage to play on, let them push off to Newcastle, Sydney or some wannabe backwater somewhere.

Some of us moved here to get away from the city. We don't have an identity crisis, and we like Lake Macquarie how it is, thank you.

I THOUGHT that when Wests took over at the Knights there would be some sense shown in regards to contracting players, but in my opinion that has gone out the window with the signing of former Bulldog David Klemmer to a five-year deal worth over $800,000 a season. 

No front-rower is worth that much for playing 45 to 50 minutes per game. To me, he would have to be a ball-playing line-breaker along the lines of a Taumalolo to receive that sort of money, and he is not that. I can see the Knights having trouble if Ponga performs like he did this year, because I can see him asking for a big upgrade on his contract in 2020 and the Knights might be a bit stretched under the cap to keep him. He is a match winner, and I can’t say the same for Klemmer.

AT last, a long and hard-fought battle has been won. Morisset Hospital will be closed off to the tourists (‘Hooroo’, Herald, 28/11). The kangaroos can now live in peace and be what they are, as nature intended.

The residents can now have peace, dignity and privacy, as they are well entitled to. The staff can now do their work without being constantly harassed by tourists demanding to use the toilets. Job well done, everyone.

WHEN you and I were young, Maggie, everybody was complaining about the weather, but nobody ever did anything about it. The more things change the more they stay the same. Now, it's climate change.

Planet Earth, we are led to believe, has been home to five different species of living creatures, their time here all terminated apparently by natural causes. Climate change, operating for untold years without help or hindrance from people, could well be the catalyst for their replacement. 

The good news is it won't happen overnight and global warming is a result of bad housekeeping we can do something about. But first thing’s first, will Wayne Bennett be coaching the Bunnies next year or not?

HERE’S some advice: learn arithmetic at school because someone may try and swindle you later in life. It appears Newcastle ratepayers have been victims of a swindle because of a lack of basic mathematics at council level. The Newcastle Supercars’ published attendance figures for both years have been overstated by around 300 to 400 per cent. From figures that plainly defy the rules of mathematics an economic study was done, and the council claimed it a successful use of the public’s money and assets.

Supercars, however, appears to have used data supplied by Telstra – and paid for by council – which incorrectly included the whole of Newcastle and Cooks Hill!

How wrong are they? To determine the maximum capacity of the circuit just add these three parts: grandstand seats, corporate seats and general admission space, as occupied on the telecast. The ticketing website in 2017 showed 3988 grandstand seats and 2150 corporate seats. Add an estimated 8000 general admission attendees (the headcount of accessible trackside areas on TV and in Newcastle Herald pictorial coverage) gives a maximum capacity under 15,000. This means the cumulative three-day attendance is below 50,000. Obviously, Newcastle council would not be happy with an economic study based on 15,000 spectators – too many minus figures!

Motor racing, a high-technology sport, is notorious for not using barcode scanning to count attendees. It’s easy to see why if you study the maths. The overblown claims could not be substantiated, and the generous state and local government subsidies could not be justified.

ARE some women in politics staging a revolt because of allegedly sexist insults and bad behaviour directed at them, or is this behaviour normal practice regardless of gender, in politics?

To be seen as equal, I wonder whether maybe some need to toughen up and give back, as most women in high places have always done. To spit the dummy and leave the party over personal issues must leave those who voted through these elected parliamentarians rather disappointed.

Morally, some parliamentarians probably need to take control of their bad behaviour, but after watching parliament in other countries, our people are angels.

I am not saying what's right or wrong, that's just the way it is, you go with the flow or get out, and you don't spit the dummy, change seats and turn your back on the people who gave their trust to support their party. l believe it's undemocratic. In politics gender has no privilege.

THE pen goes to Diana Taaffe, of Belmont North, for the letter regarding aged care services.