Large venues and poor behaviour led to the 'Newcastle solution' in 2008, and those constraints and restrictions led to a safer, cleaner and more tourist-friendly city.

We should have learned from that. It made our town a better place for everyone.

The growth of small bars in our city has meant large 'nightclubs' are not necessary, and live music is best appreciated in a more intimate environment.

As the city becomes increasingly residential the balance needs to be found.

The 'night economy' is more about hospitality, entertainment and a safe environment than it is about building bigger and bigger venues that spill hundreds of intoxicated patrons onto the streets in the early morning hours.

It should be no surprise that police oppose expansion of venues like the King Street Hotel - they deserve community support. They have mine.

THE National Party officials who call for new coal-fired power plants ("Nats fire up plan for new Hunter coal plant to power manufacturing renaissance", Herald, 27/1) are living in yesterday's world.

Blackrock, the world's largest investment company with US$9 trillion in assets, has directed businesses to "go green" with concrete plans to join the zero-carbon economy by 2050.

Failure to do so will cause a loss of confidence amongst customers, investors and staff. Clearly the Nats have poor leadership at the top.

IAN Kirkwood, in his article "Fracas over Nats 2035 Plan" questions whether pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) systems will work. There can be little doubt about that.

The first PHES system was commissioned in Europe in the 1920s. By 2017 PHES systems were providing 154 gigawatts of generating capacity, about 97 per cent of energy storage systems worldwide, because it is the cheapest form of energy storage available, and can be readily developed to balance an electricity grid with up to 100 per cent of wind and solar renewable. They require a low level water reservoir, often part of a river system, and a high level water reservoir connected by pipes with a pump and a turbine. Water is pumped uphill when there is an excess of renewable generation, and returned downhill to power the turbine when electricity demand exceeds supply. Reservoirs require modest areas, typically 10 to 100 hectares, and the systems recycle, rather than consume, water. PHES systems typically deliver maximum power for between five and 24 hours, depending on reservoir capacity.

The Australian National University has identified 22,000 sites across Australia suitable for the installation of pumped hydro energy storage systems. The report concludes that Australia needs only 450 gigawatts-hours of storage capacity and 20 gigawatts of generation power to support a 100 per cent renewable electricity system. This could be provided by the best 0.1 per cent of the identified sites.

JEFF Green (Letters, 27/1) claims Australia Day is celebrated on January 26 because that was the date that the "Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948" was enacted.

Mr Green has things the wrong way around. January 26 had been celebrated in NSW since 1818 at least, although called "First Landing Day" or "Foundation Day" or "Anniversary Day". The tradition of celebrating that date spread around the nation and "Australia Day" became more popular. By 1935 all states and territories celebrated "Australia Day" on January 26, except NSW which still called it "Anniversary Day".

MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

Something that happened in 1948 cannot be responsible for causing something that had existed for decades before that.

The date for the Act was chosen to be January 26 to capitalise on Australia Day, rather than the Act being the source of the date. January 26 was chosen because it was the date on which the British flag was first raised. It's a little alarming that attempts at rewriting history have reached the level where people attempt to misrepresent something so clearly established.

DON Fraser and Peter Sansom, Margaret Court is entitled to her views just as I'm entitled to call her out as a voodoo-believing bigot, undeserving of an AC.

Margy and I won't be sent to prison because of our views and that's what freedom of speech in the lucky country is all about right? But petty fighting amongst ourselves over 'freedom of speech' is what the federal government desires because behind this bickering insidious action against free speech is being enacted by the LNP.

David McBride, an Australian Army lawyer is awaiting trial and facing life in prison for reporting murders committed by Australian troops in Afghanistan - acts that he is legally required to report. In another incident, Witness K blew the whistle on illegal spying by the Australian government in East Timor, both a domestic and international crime. Witness K and his Australian lawyer Bernard Collaery were arrested by ASIO before they could give evidence at the International Court of Justice.

Since then they have faced trumped up charges and have endured secret trials. Collaery's attempt to publish a book about the affair received threats of prison from our government. The greatest threats to our freedom of speech are coming from our conservative right-wing government.

TONY Morley (Short Takes, 23/1) can 'call for a break' regarding criticism, (rightfully attacking) concerning the disgraceful condition of road median strips, street verges, gutters and footpaths, to name a few, "until the cows come home."

Employment is the order of our times and what better occupation for those interested in the environment than to have the enormous satisfaction of greening and cleaning, the driest continent on earth.

I haven't noticed any criticism of clean (non weed, leaf litter) beds, and gutters etc.

In contrast, the state of almost all streets and roadways within the CBD and immediate suburbs is a disgrace.

Normally when we are expecting visitors to our home, we pay special attention to the charm and allure of our property, and present a praiseworthy image.

The world-renowned human rights barrister, academic, and broadcaster Geoffrey Robinson AO QC, is very excited about (hopefully) visiting Newcastle for the very first time in May.

I hope our Lord Mayor takes serious, involved action, and creates a presentation worthy of our town.

HERE, here Matt Ophir. I detest racism, but sadly it comes in all colours. The best and funniest retort to racial abuse I've ever heard came from a great PNG mate of mine. After being referred to as a "coloured b" from a drunken, racist scumbag he calmly replied "at least I know what colour I'll be tomorrow, but will you be pink like you are now, green from a hangover, yellow from your dodgy liver, even now you're turning red, and you call me coloured."

WHILE I think Australia Day would be better held on New Year's Day I do not support these Invasion Day protests. These protests in my view are counterproductive and not in the best interests of Aboriginal people generally and especially Aboriginal children and teenagers. We need to value and be thankful for our British heritage and our Australian Constitution which we've lived under since January 1 1901.

GIVEN there's no rule we must have one, and we can't agree when it should be anyway, why not abolish our National Day and make the day we do that our national day? We could call it No National Day Day. Still a public holiday of course. Distinctively Australian, and a true sign that the country had come of age.

I WONDER what it is about Kerry O'Brien that makes himself to be the mouthpiece for all Australians. Journalists come in thousands but there is only one Margaret Court - a woman who is unique in her achievements, who has led an exemplary life with outstanding humility. Good on you, Kerry, for handing in your medal. You don't deserve it. Do tell, do you select your doctor, dentist, butcher, baker and candlestick maker, only if they agree with your views?

KERRY O'Brien has decided not to accept his Australia Day award as a protest against Margaret Court also receiving the Order of Australia. Who cares? He isn't half the Australian that Margaret is. She is an icon of world tennis and we celebrate her achievements with this award.

SO Uncle Tone, who was possibly the worst prime minister we have had inflicted on us, wants to disregard experts concerning COVID-19. This fits his tenure perfectly, where he ignored everyone except Peta and Rupert. Maybe eating onions will keep coronavirus at bay.

HOW does Scott Morrison sleep at night knowing he has locked up two Australian born children and their parents for over 1000 days and nights! The Morrison government's inhumane cruelty must be remembered come election time.

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