I had to raise my first floor level three metres above the high tide mark to earn approval of my development application.

If council’s proposal has basement car parking, it could resemble a swimming pool in 50 years’ time.

Unless the proposed building raises the ground floor to three metres above a king tide level, without basement car parking, it would contradict council’s belief that climate change will cause oceans to rise in the very near future.

- Carl Stevenson, Dora Creek

AS an older person I feel it is my duty to act as a caretaker of the environment. We have been criticised and taunted for forward thinking and told that we are preventing progress. I implore younger people listen and look to the older generation for advice and direction. We have made mistakes in the past, but now we’re drawing on our experience and factoring in results from new technologies. But yet again we are under the microscope because we care about the footprint we are leaving for future generations . Please let us find a middle ground. Progress should not be destructive,

- Robin Bastian, Marmong Point

In a recent opinion piece in the Newcastle Herald Lake Macquarie City Council CEO Morven Cameron highlights the beauty and recreational values of the lakeside setting in Toronto. Agreement there.

Then she asks the community to provide feedback to council about the “types, amenities and environment” it would like to see on the foreshore. Agreement there. It was certainly good to see the foreshore masterplanning process being brought forward and early communication happening. 

But then the arguments go pear shaped. Council now agrees the Bath Street site is on “foreshore” land yet it is pursuing its own objective of progressing to DA stage a proposed multi-storey building and not allowing inclusion of this area within the foreshore masterplan. Why?

Council seems to think that Toronto needs residential, tourist and commercial infrastructure on the foreshore and not more open space for a growing community.

So, I ask what is the logic of reducing Toronto's foreshore open space for a growing community when Toronto already has too little and council doesn't need to make money from the Bath Street site because more than enough funds are already available?

Why not invest in other infrastructure such as more shared pathways, art, gardens, boating facilities and so on that would attract tourists and be good for business?

- Nico Marcar, Toronto

I congratulate you on the stance you have taken as editor of your very readable newspaper to allow the Westlakes community to have its say on Lake Macquarie City Council’s decision to complete a development application for a multi-storey building adjacent to Royal Motor Yacht Club, Toronto.

Your paper's coverage of community actions as well as letters to the editor, Facebook comments, and Backchat, is certainly to be commended. You and your staff fully realise the strong opposition that the local community has to the proposal.

As I see it, councillors are elected to improve the council district after sensing the will of the ratepayers. In this instance, it would appear this has not occurred - especially noting the attendance of 500 citizens at the protest meeting at Toronto High School. Your report of the meeting was excellent.

- AJ Campbell, Toronto