Newcastle Herald readers have their say: Winter race an option? Now there's a super idea

COVID-19 has saved the city from the disastrous impact of a three-month - not three-day- motorsport event in the effective living room of the city this year.

So much for the idea of holidaying at home. When will the council realise that the payback for the disruption caused by this event is probably overwhelmingly negative.

Promoting beaches with good access and pleasant surroundings makes better sense than the miniscule coverage they get as the cameras follow the parade hoping for a spectacular crash.

The only place for this event is on a dedicated track. Just the cost of building and pulling down the temporary racetrack should make one wonder at the sanity of the planners who seem to think this is a good idea.

I have no argument with the few thousand people who want to watch, listen and smell the carousel of cars as they parade around the track.

I just think it is an event in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Maybe if it was held in July it might make more sense when the desire to go to the beaches is at a low ebb rather than the height of summer.

THE editorial "New power plan raises big questions" (Herald, 10/11), rightfully asked questions about the NSW government announced Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.

It's a big plan with three new large renewable energy zones (REZ) around the state - $32 billion is expected to be invested by private companies (who are they?).

But from the government's own scant figures on this fanciful project, $23 billion was listed as coming from private investment. The other $9 billion would come from you and me, the taxpayers, no doubt.

Government online graphics depict REZ generation coming from wind, solar, pumped hydro and "other dispatchables".

MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

With a turbine-wheel as a symbol, "other dispatchables" was not wind, solar or pumped hydro. None of those renewables are dispatchable.

Are they are talking of coal-fired or gas-fired power? How much thermal power would be in their REZ? Government figures list a total generation of 3GW for the Central West REZ, 8GW for the New England REZ but no figure for the South West REZ.

If that was say 3GW, then a total 14GW generation (maximum - nameplate) is all we would get out of it. That's $2.3 billion per megawatt. You could build a new HELE coal-fired powered station for less than that. You would only need one extra 2GW coal-power station for the state as the power is dispatchable 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks per year - unlike renewables. And you wouldn't need to take out 6000-square-kilometres of prime farmland or build up to 33,000km of new transmission lines.

Do you think private energy companies would want to pay for that or would they expect the NSW government to pay for and build it?

A new 2GW coal-power station would last 50 years whereas wind and solar farms need replacement within 15 years.

Better still, we could just rebuild Liddell with new boilers, furnaces etc using much of the infrastructure already there and working well into the future.

You could probably do than for less than $2 billion and you would get a reliable $2GW power station that would last another 50 years. Food for thought?

THERE has been much discussion in the past week within federal politics on climate policy, particularly from within our region by Member for Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon.

It's important to note that we have a large employment sector in the mining industry in our region with many workers residing in neighbouring electorates such as Paterson.

Given such criticism from Labor ranks in the past week, the question needs to be put to the other Hunter Labor MPs as to whether or not they support the current commentary from Joel Fitzgibbon, or do they side with their party leader?

It is important that the community has openness and transparency from our local MP on this issue to avoid any confusion.

JOEL Fitzgibbon has repeatedly claimed he stands for climate change action as per Labor policy, yet he persists in undermining any action. This is despite his electorate being recently ravaged by climate-induced drought and severe bushfires.

He continues to ignore calls by many Hunter unions to press for diversification of jobs, including jobs that would greatly help in lowering our emissions.

In West Lake Macquarie, where over half his electorate live, many, many electors are well aware of the dangers of extreme climate change and call for this diversification of jobs. They will not vote for Joel unless he changes.

In relation to the stability of intermittent renewable power. ACT, South Australia and other countries already use backups like batteries and pumped hydro, etc.

So, Joel must listen to his electorate and the unions and support Jobs for the Hunter and really alleviate climate change.

"SCOTTY from marketing" has again made international headlines and as in the past, for all the wrong reasons.

This time it is with his public putting down of Anne Ruston minister for families and social services.

Minister Ruston and "Scotty," were doing a Parliament House press event. Ms Ruston had been requested to provide her impression of the parliamentary culture following the introduction of the "bonk-ban."

Her response was quickly interrupted by "Scotty from marketing" performing another of his contrived "hissy-fits". This time, over the journalist's use of the phrase "bonk-ban" in his question.

The bemused expression on Anne Ruston's face during the "hissy-fit" spoke volumes about the status of women within the Liberal Party and Morrison's opinion of her ministerial ability.

However, in fairness to "Scotty," Anne Ruston's "foot in mouth" blunders are well established. Her infamous "aged pensions are generous" being an example.

Scotty's "hissy- fit" provided the lead he believed Anne Ruston desperately required. Anne Ruston grabbed that lead like a drowning swimmer would a straw! She declared Morrison had always been there for her since she entered politics and, equality among the sexes continues to reign supreme within the Liberal Party.

Hey Anne, "now pull the other one!"

I APPLAUD Joel Fitzgibbon's stand on Labor's move away from the people in the coal industry and the rapid move to renewables without an appropriate transition. They say Japan, Korea and European countries are moving away from coal but what they forgot to mention is that those countries get their reliable base load power from nuclear power stations. It's a pity that they are so averse to nuclear-powered stations when all the countries are using it. But this is the way it goes with the likes of Pat Conroy and the far left leaving it out of their arguments. And Conroy says the Labor supporters agree with this, well it seems a lot didn't agree last May.

GREG Hunt, (Short Takes 13/11), just how many young folk have you interviewed in order to arrive at your conclusion that climate change alarmists are causing them mental anguish? I have 15 grandchildren, most of whom are aware of the climate crisis we face but none are displaying any mental problems. Perhaps you can come up with one of your many "cherry-picked" studies made by a professor who you find is one of the very few who agree with you. You, and a couple of others, remind me of the woman watching her son's battalion march past; the woman states "look at those soldiers they all out of step except my John".

PETER Devey (Short Takes, 11/11) makes an interesting point about when the winner of an election is declared, but it is only of interest to those who are fixated on the minutiae of the electoral process. Even in our country elections are partly a constitutional requirement, and partly theatre. Our politicians are only too happy to embrace the theatre when it suits them. Usually within 24 hours of Saturday's poll. Remember the 2019 federal election? Scott Morrison, on the very night, claimed victory before every last ballot had been counted, or every seat had been officially declared. Remember "miracles do happen". I don't recall him urging caution, and to wait for the "official" declaration of the poll, which may have occurred many weeks later.

LES Field (Letters, 13/11), how much better if the nation's leading intercity railway infrastructure had been put into action as well. It would all come together: the former to-die-for destination, uniquely at the fantastic coast, so much on foot amenity, connecting with car weary Sydneysiders, looking for short, convenient experience. Australian designed and manufactured fast rolling stock for present track. It's 2020. Though their internal design is now fatal, the 1970 Comeng V-Sets are sturdy beyond measure, and give a better ride than anything since. How's that for Aussie can-do. Complete upgrading would have boosted ever-so-worthy Newcastle, across-the-board, no end.