Yachties claim that extra tourist dollars are earned from keeping the channel dredged. According to this argument, everyone benefits. Since everyone benefits, all residents should pay for the dredging through our rates. Where is the research to support the claim about the extra tourist dollars?

If yachties want to keep the channel navigable, I believe they should fund dredging and Swansea bridge's maintenance. Why should the rest of us pay for their expensive pastime? If yachties are not prepared to pay, then they should confine their sailing to Lake Macquarie or sell their boats. If this occurred, people would no longer be inconvenienced when Swansea bridge opens. When the bridge opens, hundreds of motorists are often delayed as one privileged yacht owner powers through. The bridge can sometimes gets stuck open, as it did recently. Then, delays are horrendous.

I FOUND it disappointing that the Newcastle Monopoly board ('Newcastle on board', Herald 11/8) should be in my opinion more an exercise in marketing than a celebration of so-called iconic Newcastle establishments and locations.

Some of the businesses that receive recognition on the board are hardly Newcastle icons. I mean no criticism of the businesses who took an opportunity to promote themselves, but I believe the claim that the inclusions came in response to public suggestions and support for those selected to be spurious.

Newcastle Grammar School is a fine institution, for instance, but surely an objective assessment for the inclusion of the school on the board would have led to the appearance of Newcastle East Public School. It is Australia's oldest school, after all, and that alone would satisfy any requirement for an iconic status in comparison with other schools in the city, let alone the country.

THERE used to be a saying that laughter was the best medicine before the political correctness rule evolved. Well, all correctness aside, I did have a laugh at Paul Scott's rant last Monday ('Baths need more than a summer of love', Opinion 7/10).

His definition of his doona was a bit on the nose, and he'll need to chase a few ducks for a refill if he sends it to the cleaners. However, as a swimmer at the Newcastle Ocean baths for many years, I compliment him on classing the regulars as "real" because we recognise the great attribute that the pool and canoe pool are to this city.

It attracts visitors from overseas and the outback, not toffs, for recreational purposes and there is easy access for older and disabled people. Schools also use it during the summer so that buses have access for offloading. Parking is used by swimmers, surfers, families using the canoe pool and walkers, so I believe to commercialise it would deny the recreational use for which it was originally designed for.

The pool certainly needs restoring, as does the facade together with the original women's dressing room. During the summer the female room, when schools are there, is much too small so I think there is a need to return it to the original design, preferably with a roof over it. The black asphalt is dangerous to walk on, all broken.

I understand Bondi council recently applied to the state government for a grant to restore its pavilion and was granted millions. A vision is certainly needed for restoration of Newcastle's baths, but to commercialise it would be detrimental to that area.

WE should all be concerned about the invasion of northern Syria by Turkey ('Turkish offensive in Syria kills hundreds', Herald 12/10). The excuse used by President Erdogan of providing a safe zone along Turkey's Syrian border is a furphy. If you have problems securing your border, moving it a few kilometres only shifts the problem. I think this is a blatant attempt to increase the Turkish state at the expense of another nation and will only cause more problems for the settlement of the Syrian crisis.

It is interesting to see that Erdogan has waited until others have fought ISIS and now moves in when the hard yards are over. There is a fair chance he has bitten off more than he can chew as other parties become involved and we see a resurgence of ISIS.

Of course, this decision to invade has come from a man who has declared himself president for life and has suppressed and jailed his opposition, academics and intellectuals all over Turkey as well as stifling freedom of the press. Watch this space. It sounds a lot like 1939 to me.

I KNOW I'm not the only person in and around the Charlestown region that feels shocked and deeply offended by the huge building that now fronts the Pacific Highway, heading south from Newcastle.

In my opinion it is not only a big blot on the landscape as visitors drive down this vital section of our highway, but one of the ugliest of the now dozens of high rise buildings starting to flood our once beautiful city, more to start in coming months.

Surely this awful building that startles drivers as it looms up out of the blue isn't supposed to excite anyone driving through town. We don't really need buildings over 10 storeys high anywhere in this town, much less over 20 storeys.

THE Independent Planning Commission of the New South Wales Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has turned down the Kepco Bylong coal mine proposal after years of consideration of its environmental impacts.

There were a number of reasons for this decision including impacts on limited ground water, (could be no water left for agriculture), biophysical strategic agricultural land (some of the best agricultural land in NSW destroyed), landscapes, heritage and natural values (some of the most beautiful landscapes and the community of Bylong destroyed), and climate change.

Statements made about these reasons by various federal government ministers are in my opinion misleading, inaccurate and tell only a small part of the story. Other statements attack the appointed commissioners who made these decisions, in the time-honoured tradition of shooting the messenger if the message is not the one desired.

There are good reasons for refusing this mine and we should not be deceived by statements to the contrary.

DAVID Harris (Letters, 10/10) wrote negativity to miners and coal mining is unfounded if the benefits to workers are considered properly. Mr Harris' career pays positive outcomes to his family; outcomes which flow to the whole community. I think there would be far less criticism of coal mining if our government could provide a plan as we transition from coal mining to renewables. This would give everyone certainty and direction. We have no plan so people are simply venting their fear and frustration in any way they can.

HAMILTON East residents have for many years endured chaotic parking conditions in their streets by hordes of P-platers vying for spaces close to their school and TAFE. School holidays have provided residents with some relief. Now, a new invasion has overrun the same streets. Council office workers are taking over these prized spaces. It should be interesting to see the parking wars between the schoolies and the workers as the new term begins.

IF the government is determined to make up more laws concerning "religious freedom", could someone please explain what exactly do they want when they are asking for the "right to express their beliefs" and why should religious laws override national or state laws? I have asked this before but no one seems to have an answer.

WELL, Graeme Kime (Short Takes, 11/10), the Raiders didn't score when the Roosters had 12 men. Maybe Canberra weren't quite good enough. Stop blaming the ref. I think the only bad call is yours.

I HOPE our PM's trip to Fiji will solve our farmers' water problems.

I AM tired of hearing people say Canberra should have won based on the six-again call. Yes, it was very unusual decision, but replays conclusively backed it up. Adding to that, Cooper Cronk should not have been sin binned. It was a penalty at best. The real decisions that decided result were BJ Leilua not passing to an unmarked Jordan Rapana, Sezer not staying on his own man Tupou as the inside defender had Latrell covered. When Cronk was so early committed to Papalii, they should have played out the back and a player would have scored untouched. These are all easy observations from the sideline, but the best team won.

I WOULD suggest the Knights substitute that name for something else. So they can benefit from a new start without the cost, 'll even kick it off. It's a little bird, perched in the corner of a hi-vis shirt that one day could be worn by a Newcastle Noisy Minor.

JUST this morning I received an unexpected text. "Hi, Scotty here. Have you ever considered hiring an apprentice? PS go the Sharkies, whoops I mean sparkies!" Can anyone explain?