Vote on sculpture
I WRITE regarding the $150,000 sculpture to be installed by Lake Macquarie City Council at Speers Point (“Lake funds sculpture”, Lakes Mail, January 17). You can never please everybody, but when that much money is to be spent, why don't we have a vote? Personally, I'm not keen on architectural sculptures.
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I wonder how much a large natural rock fountain would have cost? Or a wooden sculpture created by a chainsaw artist? That would be brilliant, and would be a tourist attraction.
On another topic, after March, I plan to start a group that would gather once a week, for a maximum of two hours, and not too early, to clean up and plant the public area extending from Morisset Country Club to the Lions Club Park, on Dora Street, Morisset - with council approval, of course.
Anyone interested is invited to contact me, Cheryl, on 0426 864564 for ideas.
- Cheryl Buerckner, Balcolyn
Sewer will be better
LITTLE does John Bonnyman of Fern Bay know about charges for us on pump-out systems (“Sewer connection costs”, Lakes Mail, November 29).
My rates are $1022 per quarter. I don’t as yet know the sewer charge, but expect it will be less.
We also have to contend with people who have an onsite enviro system in their backyards that have a discharge area with no barrier to stop treated effluent from impacting neighbouring properties, especially during storms.
There is also no control over stormwater which is allowed to flow freely, bringing the effluent to pollute the environment.
Sewer can’t be worse.
- M James, Wyee
Engineering masterpiece
MOST of the time when we whinge about the state and federal governments we do so with good reason. So, just for a change, I would like to say how good the upgraded M1 Pacific Motorway north of Newcastle is. It’s an engineering masterpiece if ever there was one.
I drive to the Gold Coast and back at least twice a year, and on each trip I notice more improvements which make the trip faster and safer.
With major roadworks and the resultant delays on the Grafton-to-Ballina section, I’ve been avoiding this area by using the Summerland Way from Grafton via Casino and Lismore to Ballina, which is free of most traffic, particularly semi-trailers and B-doubles. It is a very good road that has a 100kph speed limit most of the way, and essentially no built-up areas requiring a drop in speed – except Casino and the outskirts of Lismore.
Readers planning a trip up north might like to try this route if they don’t normally do so. Congratulations to everyone involved in the improvements to Australia’s busiest transport route.
- Ian King, Warners Bay
Rethink Toronto
IN April, 2018, Lake Macquarie City Council (LMCC) announced its proposal for a six-storey development on foreshore parkland at the end of Bath Street, Toronto.
Despite overwhelming objection from the community, LMCC proceeded to spend ratepayers’ dollars on preliminary site testing. According to council’s time line, 2019 will now see an independent consultant appointed to “finalise a detailed concept design” for the development.
We have submitted a petition of over 5000 signatures opposing this development. We now learn that LMCC has classified more land in Toronto as “operational”. These sites are eminently suitable for apartment development. We acknowledge that we are not against development.
We exhort LMCC to rethink its proposal for Bath Street. We acknowledge LMCC’s good initiatives in sustainability, recycling and culture. We now seek LMCC’s initiative to maintain our public foreshore.
- Kate Elderton, Toronto