My question is, why has this bridge been given priority when it really has nothing to do with the bypass project as far as I can see? Does the government want to be seen to be doing something while in reality, just delaying major expenditure?

With talk of a major expansion to the John Hunter Hospital's emergency department, it is even more important that the bypass completion be expedited.

I BELIEVE Australians who fight in the name of terror are grown at home in an atmosphere filled with hate and intolerance. Revenge and envy fuel these victims of Australia's right-wing lust for racial warfare.

It's time to confront those who deal in hate. This country is plagued by hate fermenters. They stream their deadly poison live on the internet, on the radio and TV. Every House of Parliament in this country is forced to endure racist right-wing MPs and senators. Broadcasters who repeatedly flout racial vilification laws have gained notoriety.

Given what they espouse, one can only assume they must be gloating after Christchurch or looking forward to the next acts. If it doesn't happen soon, I expect they will ramp up their campaign of racial intolerance to boost ratings and ferment more shocking acts of hate and terror.

THERE were a couple of negative letters in Saturday's Herald about the Australia-wide strike of school students over lack of action on climate change. I have a different view. I was listening to Radio National on Sunday when host Hugh Riminton had four high school students on the line. It was about a 30-minute interview and the four young women were very impressive.

One of the young women has a particular interest in limiting sea-level rise as her parents are from Bangladesh. Much of Bangladesh is very low-lying and is subject to flooding around the Bay of Bengal. It was a delight to listen to these students. After all, they are our future leaders in either business or politics. I recommend you seek it out. I was suitably impressed.

THERE is a distinct likelihood that the human race and other species will not see out this century. Capital will still continue to exploit the natural resources of the planet. The accumulated capital of the rich nations has to be used to turn this around and bring the planet back into a sustainable state. Otherwise living conditions will become unbearable. There will be wholesale conflict.

The only solution will be a massive planting of trees to absorb more CO2, control our diet and reduce the livestock numbers to cut methane. Cut back manufacturing of non-essential goods and examine how Scandinavian countries run their economies with a more equal distribution of national wealth. We need to control the exploitation of marine life and deal with the increased acidity of the oceans to protect the krill, crucial for whales.

What does the United Nations do to combat climate change and what are they doing about world poverty? The immensely rich should do more in this regard. The Japanese fishing fleet should be organised to clean up the massive plastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean instead of killing more whales. A huge effort is needed to deal with waste and recycle as much as possible. A greater effort on renewable energy is needed, and the diversion of excess fresh water from the tropical north of Australia to where it is needed like the Darling River in NSW.

IN reply to Linda Hall (Short Takes 12/3), as I welcome your right of reply I stand fast on my search for answers regarding the subject. I would be more than happy to hear any response from Ms Massey regarding the situation as I am sure that she is capable of realising my questions are a comment on Ms Massey's opinions rather than an attack on Ms Massey herself. I have no interest whatsoever in placing a stop to the culling of feral horses. In fact, I propose culling of all introduced feral species.

Take into account that these horses also have a negative impact not just in national parks, but on the farmers and graziers already struggling to maintain crops and feed livestock to keep food on your table. I have no objections to the RSPCA overseeing or being involved in all of these undertakings.

I suggest you check the meanings of facetious, rhetorical and irony before you complete your membership form to join the Australian Save the Cane Toad Association.

IN reply to Mati Morel (Letters 14/1): you failed to mention the changing border of NSW.

The borders of NSW are now apparently the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Cooks rivers. According to both political parties in Macquarie Street, the entire remaining land mass of NSW is just the size of the colony of NSW at the time of federation and all wealth generated therein immediately reverts to Sydney. Unfortunately for the current government, with the former state-owned electricity commission and the largest port of the former NSW sold to private investors there is little of value left to sell. In the near future, the people of Sydney will have to fund their own infrastructure improvements by paying higher prices to use it. In the meantime we, the great unwashed who live in what used to be NSW, will keep paying for the centre of their universe.

The Newcastle Herald reported on Wednesday that Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation was expected to put the Intertrade site at Mayfield on the market. The site is owned by a different government entity, Property NSW, which would organise any sale of the land. The Herald apologises for the error.