LAKE Macquarie Council wants to build a new basketball stadium at Hillsborough to replace the existing Broadmeadow facility. They initially proposed the entrance and exit to be off the inner-city bypass, though Transport for NSW stated this would cause "too much congestion". Despite a main arterial road not being able to cope, council in their wisdom now propose to send traffic down a 50km/h road low-density residential road, generating 300-plus car movements per hour in peak times. They also plan to only offer 200 car parks for a 4000-seat stadium. Where do they expect patrons to park? The surrounding streets are not built to cope for overflow overflow parking, most being three cars wide at best kerb-to-kerb. There has been zero community consultation with this project, despite it being proposed to be open seven days per week, 6am to 11pm, and to be utilised for multiple major events per year. A stadium in Lake Macquarie would be wonderful for the community, though this is the entirely wrong location. Council are now clutching at straws trying to get this approval through, which will have devastating impacts on residents, the adjacent public school, and the already congested Hillsborough Road.
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Kirby Read, Charlestown
Nurses must be supported
ARE you kidding me? That our nursing staff have to walk out to have nurse-to-patient ratios looked at is beyond comprehension. Our medical front line workers are the people we go to. These people deserve our support just like they supported us and continue to do so during this pandemic. Because it's not over. Our nurses need to feel safe in their work. They deserve a pay rise. I can't believe that after all they have been through that this is even an issue. The government needs to support those in the front line. Nurses are a special breed. They go above and beyond. Wake up. Nurses need to feel supported and valued.
Gina Horn, Cardiff South
Clarification on stairway
I REFER to letters from Peter Samson and Peter Devey (Herald, 2/6) regarding the proposed "Stairway to Heaven" concept. It is great to see community interest in this exciting proposal for our city. To reassure both Peters, firstly, council passed a clear resolution in December, 2020, that the 380 public car parking spaces from the soon-to-be-demolished Mall Car Park must be replaced in any redevelopment of the site. This was reported in the Newcastle Herald on December 2, 2020. Secondly, accessibility is also a key requirement, meaning that lifts will be provided for people with mobility needs. Over the past few weeks, we've received feedback from over 250 people on the vision for the Harbour to Cathedral corridor. Overall, the sentiment is largely positive, though, like both Peters, there have been comments from those under the misapprehension that parking and accessibility won't be considered. Community feedback is open until 5pm, Friday, June 11. Learn more at newcastle.nsw.gov.au/yoursay
David Clarke, CoN director governance
MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Australia is not keeping pace
THE Morrison federal government is at a critical point regarding its obvious lack of necessary involvement in the global fight against human-induced climate change. We are clearly now lagging well behind our trading partners in relation to fighting climate change. Our political leaders have seemingly ignored advice from many scientists who have warned that Australia, by now, at the very least, should have agreed upon, and dealt with, the following major essentials:
- Setting a firm target date to reach net zero greenhouse emissions.
- Having in place a comprehensive plan, indicating as clearly as possible, how and over what period, the use of fossil fuels to create energy can be phased out. This will not be easy.
- Adopting an appropriate carbon pricing mechanism.
It is most unfortunate that neither of the three essentials above have, to this date, been dealt with by the Morrison government. The attitude of our federal government towards human induced climate change is extremely difficult to understand. Because of the lack of appropriate action being taken by our federal government in relation to climate change Australia is not keeping pace with our trading partners in attempting to avoid a climate disaster. We are letting down our trading partners, and in fact, the rest of the world, in a big way.
Brian Measday, Myrtle Bank
Question: Are you better off?
THE perennial societal question "are you better off under this government than you were the last?" may be answered by the outcome at the ballot box come the next federal election. No doubt COVID-19 will be used by the incumbent Morrison government to explain away criticisms. But on any analysis of its performance in terms of COVID-19 management, incompetence features significantly. On any reasonable consideration of the period 2019-2021 the Morrison government has been riddled with corruption, pork barrelling and allegations of abuse, sexual and emotional within the workforce of parliament house and electoral offices. Our prime minister is guilty of having abandoned the nation in its greatest time of need. Our prime minister is also guilty of lying to the nation on matters of national importance. He told us Australia was at the head of the queue for COVID-19 vaccines and we were not. Both he and his treasurer would have us believe the Australian people have never had it so good because of LNP policies and budgetary measures. Leaving open the perennial question: "are you better off under this government than you were under the last?"
Barry Swan, Balgownie
ScoMo query was on money
IN response to Doug Hoepper challenging Martin Schlaeger's criticism of Scott Morrison receiving the Pfizer jab rather than the AstraZeneca jab (Short Takes, 2/6). Mr Hoepper also compares Scott Morrison with Anthony Albanese's Pfizer jab. Scott Morrison was lobbied by AstraZeneca's Head of Government Affairs, Kieran Schneemann. Mr Schneeman held high office in the Liberal Party during the Howard administration's 12 years in office and is no stranger to Scott Morrison. Mr Schneemann availed himself of the politics/industry revolving door and ended up in pharmaceuticals. I believe Scott Morrison chose AstraZeneca for ordinary Australians because of this not-so-nebulous nexus and its relatively low cost. Considering this, I contend that Martin Schlaeger was right to criticise Scott Morrison. Anthony Albanese also had the Pfizer jab yet he wasn't lobbied by an associate to purchase AstraZeneca, nor was Anthony Albanese responsible for deciding which jab ordinary Australians would receive. This makes the comparison irrelevant. It is my opinion that ordering AstraZeneca for ordinary Australians yet selecting Pfizer for himself was a cynical, hypocritical stunt. Quite possibly one of the reasons Scott Morrison's detractors refer to him as "Scotty from Marketing".
John Lawton, Belmont
SHORT TAKES
IT'S time. It's time to revisit nuclear power. Is there a politician brave and smart enough to spell out the actual cost of manufacturing current renewables and problems of disposal at "end of life"? We own uranium. Safety has increased 100-fold since Chernobyl. We have land to build on. We have land to bury spent rods encased in cement. All we lack is leadership. We could have power to drive our manufacturing and future. It's time to revisit nuclear.
Elizabeth Watson, Swansea
STAIRWAY to Heaven? What's in it for people like me, non Christian and disabled and non believer in the concept of heaven? If this is to go ahead please give it a new name and disability access. Hold on, who wants to go to the cathedral anyway?
Denise Lindus Trummel, Mayfield
SO, it seems the loss of popular live music venues in Newcastle (Going, going: Developer closes in on buying landmark Cambridge Hotel site, Herald, 3/6) might have more to do with the lucrative spread of apartment developments than the alcohol lockout laws?
Christine Everingham, Newcastle East
DON Fraser, (Short Takes, 3/6), Daley versus Minns; the fight to become leader of an unelectable party. Don't despair, the salaries still flow the same.
Gary Hayward, Cardiff
ON the same day a trial of cashless pokies at Wests Newcastle was announced, the poker machine company Aristocrat announced a 28 per cent increase in online gambling revenue. No wonder Aristocrat is supporting cashless poker machines, it is actively transitioning gamblers to online games and apps. Problem gambling is potentially being moved out of sight and behind closed doors at home.
Jason Bryce, Hamilton
HARRY'S mother, Diana, once famously said 'there were three people in this marriage, it was a bit crowded'. Now he can say the same; him, Meghan and Oprah.
David Davies, Blackalls Park
MARY Stronach (Letters 3/6), what is so wrong with some nice trees and seats.Why does it have to have anything built on it at all? Why does everything have to make a dollar for a developer? Realistically that's what this crusade is about.
Terry O'Donoghue, Merewether
MARIE Low makes a very pertinent point about the images of smoking and vaping in her article (Herald, 3/6). For me one of the most profound comments was made by Yul Brynner when he found out he was dying. The ultimate Marlboro man. It is, with hindsight, easier not to start than to give up later.
Vic Davies, Tighes Hill
WHEN it comes to pollies, always back self-interest. At least you know it's trying.
