Of interest is the Lake Macquarie Council (LMCC) submission stating, in part: “Council raises no objections to the helipad from a flora and fauna impact perspective”; and  “...the proposed helipad would provide additional recreational, private use of the waterway and therefore reflect an economic asset...”.

 Also included in LMCC's submission is an attachment for the recommended operations of the helipad. By blatant absence in this submission are the requirements under Air Services Australia principles to “use an area which has been previously exposed to aircraft noise rather than a newly exposed area”.

In its submission, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) says, in part, “...the environmental assessment report (submitted by JPG) does not meet the threatened species requirement”.

 As for a statement from LMCC stating the helipad provides an  economic asset, this is far from the truth as JPG has stated no additional jobs would be created. 

So, where are the councillors who lobbied for our vote just four months ago, and who said they would fight to stop the over-development of Trinity Point?

It seems that we are being sold out by LMCC and the councillors who we trusted to keep their word.

- Irene Bates, Brightwaters    

SEVERAL representations have been made regarding the proposed helipad at Trinity Point. Most have been valid, but there has been no reference to the safety of helicopter crews and passengers.

Having flown both fixed and rotary winged aircraft for the military, I proffer for consideration the following.-

(1) Aircraft flying over the lake area have the advantage of height and consequently the opportunity to select the most favourable area in which to execute a forced landing – in particular the shallow waters on the edge of the lake. In the case of helicopters, a trained pilot should be able to safely auto-rotate onto a small area such as a vacant residential lot.

(2) Notwithstanding the above, helicopters are most vulnerable during take off and the approach to landing. In the event of a serious malfunction, and with little height for manoeuvring, the pilot will have three options – into the marina, the lake, or a densely populated residential area.

(3) In light of the above, the siting of this helipad could hardly be worse and, furthermore, is not suitably located for the emergency evacuation of casualties, as some have suggested.

Pity the patients, but more so the paramedics with a carry of 200 metres from the ambulance drop-off to the helicopter pick-up – totally exposed to the prevailing weather.

- Philip Calvert, Morisset Park

I WAS watching a bloke fishing off a Central Coast jetty the other day, catching big fish and throwing them back in and keeping the little fish. After watching him throw seven big fish back, and having a dozen small under-size fish proudly displayed on the jetty, I complained to him that this was breaking the law. He replied to me: “I only have a small frying pan”, “nothing is a crime until you are caught” and anyway small fish taste sweeter. I walked away totally confused, from his very fishy replies.  

- Richard Ryan, Summerland Point

I'M starting to warm to Donald Trump, especially his "alternative facts" concept . As in "the alternative fact is the Knights won the comp in 2016". Reality is so overrated.

- Dave McTaggart, Edgeworth