But the incident is of great concern to many who live and work in the precinct of the forthcoming Newcastle 500. By all accounts, a shock-absorber of Scott McLaughlin's car was thrown onto the balcony of a nearby residence beside the track. The flying shrapnel could have killed someone in their own home.

The Newcastle 500 has over 50 per cent of the track lined with residences and businesses. For me the risk is too high for potential injury or even death from such high-speed shrapnel. We had people injured during the Newcastle 500 event in 2017 when a tyre jumped the concrete barrier protection and fencing.

I think it is time to move the Newcastle 500 event to a purpose-designed motor racing track rather than use city streets. From what I hear, motor sports enthusiasts would welcome a local first-class track for use year-round.

LEWIS gets it ('Lewis' view', Newcastle Herald, 26/10). There's not many of us left. Those children in Newcastle after Japan raided Pearl Harbour and our merchant ships sailed the treacherous waters on our east coast; where each goodbye we wondered would be the last. That shipping community was an insular lot. We had to be with censorship worn like a badge. I well remember that marvellous day on August 15, 1945 when Mr Drake, the area director of education, came to school assembly at old Newcastle Girls' High and announced the end of the Pacific War. We had the rest of the day off, hundreds of black stockings running down National Park Street screaming for joy. I can well remember hiding my tears of joy. "No more goodbyes". We had many friends who could not celebrate. Their merchant dads had not come home. This is just a fraction of the history of marvellous Newcastle Maritime Museum. Where is it all to end up?

NSW Corrections Minister Anthony Roberts is reported as saying that Ivan Milat can "rot in hell".

US President Donald Trump says that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi "died like a dog" and "a coward".

I hold no affection for either of the recently-deceased men and particularly not for the acts that they committed.

I do however feel a great sense of unease that elected leaders feel that they can discuss the demise of another human being with such vitriol and malice.

Surely we deserve better from our "leaders".

I THINK it's a bit petty to criticise Newcastle council about the power pole at the intersection of Foundry and Albert streets, Wickham.

Why would you get the pole moved first before you do the road works? What a great deterrent for the hoons who do their late night burnouts around the suburb. Imagine burning around a blind corner and having a power pole pop up in front of you; a stroke of genius by our progressive council.

They could even plant a few poles on the Supercars course. Preferably pop up ones, the petrol heads would go crazy at the thought. Attendances would skyrocket and maybe the council would recoup a few of the taxpayers' dollars they have squandered on this event.

JUST a thought. Why don't we paint some big teeth onto the concrete slabs around Fort Scratchley and put some eyes at the top and then everyone; locals, Newcastle City Council and tourist cruise ships will realise and feel welcomed to Newcastle; Australia's very own second Luna Park?

Rather than bending over backwards for Supercars, how about fixing all of the existing infrastructure problems that Newcastle already has?

Such as footpaths that have dangerous speed humps like the one that is outside our house which my father cannot even roll his walker over unassisted, and I have been asking to have this tripping hazard fixed for years. Our footpath has just had the potholes filled in with new tar decade after decade. The whole thing should have been ripped up, levelled and fixed sometime in the last 30 years and the next ASAP.

What about the Newcastle Ocean Baths and the canoe pool? The ocean baths with hundreds of visitors each day, and the canoe pool with hundreds of kids has been a colossal disgrace for decades, and now with summer just around the corner again, it won't be fixed this summer.

DRAMATIC data shows 41 per cent of drownings of children under five are just one-year-old.

As summer approaches, Royal Life Saving would like to remind readers to actively supervise young children at all times around water to prevent drowning deaths.

Our data shows that the risk of drowning triples as soon as a child turns one. In the past 17 years, 202 children aged one year have drowned. Almost all of these deaths were due to a lack of active adult supervision, and most incidents occurred in backyard swimming pools.

Additional data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that drowning is the number one cause of death in one, two and three year olds.

Distractions are dangerous, and the consequences can be tragic. Drowning is often quick and silent - it takes only a few moments for a child to slip away unnoticed, fall into water and drown.

Drowning deaths in young children are wholly preventable. Simple safety measures can make all the difference between a fun day and a tragedy.

Help us to eliminate child drowning for once and for all by always keeping watch of children around water, and ensuring that you have a pool fence with a fully operational gate - and never leave that gate propped open. In addition, we urge parents and carers to learn how to resuscitate and teach their children water safety skills from an early age.

At Royal Life Saving, our vision is a water-loving nation free from drowning. We want everyone to enjoy the water, while staying safe and always mindful of the risks.

Readers can get more information by visiting royallifesaving.com.au.

CAN someone please explain to me why some filthy stinking bats get to ride shotgun over hard working tax paying residents in East Cessnock ('Flying in with subsidies', Newcastle Herald, 30/10)? I'm sure I have never seen a genuine explanation as to why the bats have priority.

THE coal loaders in Newcastle are on an island between the north and south passage of the Hunter River. If sea levels rise because of coal-induced climate change we fishing fanatics will have an amazing artificial reef system which will go a long way to replacing the dead Great Barrier Reef. Coral trout for dinner, yum.

ONCE more we see an example of Liberal inconsistency. They insist that obsolete coal-powered electricity generation be kept in the mix to promote Australian manufacturing, but when the opportunity to manufacture ferry boats comes along, the contract is awarded overseas.

IF Mr Bath is responsible for putting people's safety at risk with this ridiculous power pole situation then I think he should resign. To say it was the only way to get the work done is not caring about the safety of ratepayers and is unacceptable. I think you need to go.

REGARDING Ivan Milat's funeral; no way should the NSW pay ('State won't be paying', Herald, 30/10). Give the family until Monday to have his body collected, if not then take him to the tip and bury him with the unwanted animals. Simple. Still too good for him.

I THINK it's appropriate that Ian King (Short Takes, 31/10) talks about closed minds because in my opinion his words could apply to himself and his constant attacks on unions.

WHERE are all the carbon warriors when bushfires are putting thousands of tonnes of carbon into the air? They all should be fighting the fires to stop this happening.

JOHN Howard and Tony Abbott's fair work practises have worked a treat. First get rid of the unions, then introduce individual workplace agreements. Well now the chickens are coming home to roost. No wonder they want to get rid of the CFMEU.

THERE seems to be a lot of contributors who are trying to compare apples with oranges regarding closing Uluru to walkers. War memorials and cathedrals are man made (Short Takes, 31/10). Uluru was not built by the Aboriginal people, but is a product of nature (my apologies for any Dreamtime explanations).

DRAMA or documentary? I'm aFRAYED it's comedy.