In many respects the actions of the state government so far tend to confirm the fact that the state government does not care for any part of the state which is outside of the Sydney basin. They only want Newcastle while coal continues to be exported and royalties paid to Macquarie Street. What would Macquarie Street do if the whole of the Stockton peninsular was washed into the sea? Answer, probably nothing provided coal exports continued.

THE stated intent for the proposed multi-purpose multi-storey building in Bath Street is to attract tourists and visitors to Toronto ('Floating fresh idea for Lake', Herald, 8/9). It could be questioned whether commercial/residential buildings attract people to a place or whether when more people are attracted to an area because of its intrinsic appeal, it can lead to the construction of new buildings to meet this extra demand. The question is: what is the best use for this strategic land for locals and visitors alike, and what will attract more people? The strategic nature of the site is that it stands at one end of the Toronto foreshore and at the same time at one end of the Greenway corridor stretching from Toronto to Fassifern along the former rail line. There is no doubt that both of these reserves have been poorly maintained, are poorly presented and are long overdue for a makeover. These two areas could be linked by a low-rise structure at Bath Street that could house a restaurant (overlooking Lake Macquarie), provide parking, and house an interpretive centre for newly-developed features along the path to Fassifern. New features could include wetlands at Endeavour Bay and between Cary Street and Stony Creek; new pathways around Edmonds Bay and Blackalls Park as well as the petrified forest area. A kayak launching area near the former Stony Creek swimming area could provide access to Stony Creek, Mudd Creek and Edmonds Bay. A major enhancement of the existing pathway to Fassifern would encourage day trips to the Toronto foreshore by catching trains from Newcastle and walking or riding along the path. The prospect of reactivating some form of tourist rail transport would also be a possibility. With the prospect of population pressures in Western Lake Macquarie being forecast by the council, there will be a need for additional accessibility to the waterways around Toronto that have always been the drawcard for the area.

THE traumatic 2019 season is finally over for the Knights and we are left with more questions than answers. Who or what influenced the curious departure of classy centre Jesse Ramien? Did the players' managers have a negative effect on individual attitudes? Only those in the inner sanctum can answer these questions. It was obviously the correct decision from Nathan Brown to leave with two games remaining. The team's flogging by West Tigers indicated they weren't on the same page. Sadly, it is obvious that Nathan is a really nice human being, but therein lays his vulnerability. Nice guys don't win competitions. Aiden O'Brien was rightfully appointed as head coach. O'Brien was senior assistant coach in the tightly-disciplined Melbourne Storm system and more recently as attacking coach with the Sydney Roosters. Craig Bellamy, Trent Robinson and Cooper Cronk have all given glowing references. Short- and medium-term success is just around the corner for all you true believers. Up the Knights.

REGARDING George Pell, Ruth Burrell asks "How many times do you have to be found guilty for it to be the case?" Her answer is, "It used to be once". I think she is mistaken. Our system has appeals. Many cases are overturned on appeal. Sometimes a person is found guilty twice and then innocent on a second level of appeal. The reality is that in our justice system you are as guilty as your last court proceeding says. If you have been found guilty, but have an appeal left, that simply means you are guilty so far, but might yet turn out to be innocent. I really feel for those who find this long-running saga distressing. I realise that some victims of abuse feel re-traumatised by each proceeding regarding Pell. But the horror of child sexual abuse isn't sufficient reason to abandon our judicial processes. Abuse of any sort is an abuse of power, of responsibility and of natural justice. We need to be resilient and patient enough that we don't betray our principles in reacting to it.

THE warning from the NSW chief health officer must be taken seriously, not just as it impacts the sensory attributes of those in hearing range, and also the overall harm I believe the Supercars event causes to the environment and its community ('Race 'risk to hearing'', Herald, 6/9). Pandering to the vested interests of the motorsport industry whilst championing the apparent economic benefits to the city and the state lacks independent assessment of the overall environmental impacts. Do Supercars events need to be held on city and suburban streets? Not everyone follows this sport and disrupting cities and towns to make a quid might need to be challenged.

I HAVE had enough of politicians treating the public like mushrooms and taking hypocrisy to its lowest level. A good example is Morrison and Dutton, putting aside whether their decision made about the Biloela Tamil family is right or wrong, because of strong opposition they have had to abandon their ploy of keeping the public in the dark and, hypocritically, have gone back to the deaths at sea of boat people and the effect the recovery had on the navy personnel, which is only right and proper, but at the time was kept under cover as "on water matters". The hypocrisy comes from where was their compassion for thousands of worse horrific innocent deaths, and the much worse effect it is having on our personnel, who are still struggling to get the proper treatment and recognition, coming back from their ill-advised and disastrous invasion of Iraq to pander to the USA.

AUSTRALIA isn't the dumping ground for illegal asylum seekers or anything else, except heartless hypocrites. But not to worry mate, the economy is doing great, the government really, really cares about press freedom, and all those dole bludgers are going to have to piss in a jar for national security. Some day it might even rain.

POOR taste or poor timing? Child killer Michael Guider released from prison smack bang in the middle of National Child Protection Week.

TO Peter Dolan (Letters, 6/9), you seem to have missed my point on the George Pell issue, but rather than dissecting my letters why don't you give us your opinion? Do you think George Pell is guilty or not guilty?

LOVELY and refreshing story regarding the Rigbys' 70th wedding anniversary ('All still rosy after 70 years', Newcastle Herald, 4/9). May you both enjoy many more happy years together.

WHAT'S more addictive: cigarettes or the government's love affair with the taxes on them? If it's all about health then where is a tax on the beverage industry?

REGARDING Ruth Burrell (Letters, 6/9): Well said Ruth, well said. Nailed it in black and white, nothing grey about it at all.

YOU missed one Mac (Short Takes 6/9, 'ScoMo says no') ScoMo did say 'Yes' to the 'Don' to send a naval vessel and military personnel to the Persian Gulf to continue harassing the Iranians in a conflict that has nothing to do with us.

OUR esteemed leader is teaching us something: that Christians can be evil. Not as evil as Dutton, perhaps, but close.

NEWCASTLE City Council allowed the knockdown of the Palais Royale. A piece of heritage got removed because it was claimed to be derelict. History repeats every week in the complaints we see, the things they do. I shake my head, disgraceful. Newcastle City Council, how can you feel you are there for the community, you are far from reality.

MR Freund (Letters, 7/9), Newcastle is wonderful and it seems all positive Supercars letters are by people who don't have extremely loud cars metres from their door.

JOHN Freund (Letters, 7/9), when it comes to economic well being, you don't limit your options. The Supercars oh-so-true "wonderful Newcastle" commentary means getting cut off the Sydney rail network is endless loss. Rather, the intercity railway infrastructure, of a 400bln GDP metropolitan hub, should have been upgraded to do its job. Frequent, swift 90-minute trips, right to the priceless NSW coast, are now missing.