GREGSON Park has recently been opened after $3 million has been spent refurbishing and repairing the park. However, no shade has been installed at all.
While residents are grateful, it has all been a colossal waste of taxpayers funds if people cannot use the park, with many families only frequently visiting the park on overcast days.
With a metal slippery dip and swings, the equipment is too hot to sit on, let alone the damage from the sun burn the children will receive.
Please, please install some shade so that this outlay of money is not wasted.
Tracey Smith, Hamilton
We must prepare for migration
REGARDING "More falling into poverty trap" (Herald 15/10): we are barely able to feed and house our current population. How on earth are we going to do the same for the flood of migration allowed by federal Labor? What is the plan?
Shane Tull, Redhead
Some with much to say now quiet
GREG Hunt ("Government still not listening", Letters, 15/10), you seem to have missed the irony of Jacinta Price who campaigned on a 'No' vote for a Voice to Parliament now complaining that the government is not listening to their Voice to Parliament.
Bob Watson, Swansea
It may be four long years ahead
WHILE all the letters are about the disgraceful attitudes directed, predominantly from the Labor and Green councillors, towards the new lord mayor at the first meeting, I'm personally at a loss as to why the electorate voted out a Labor lord mayor only and not all of the Labor and Green candidates and provide a true independent council. This was a major missed opportunity to send home a strong message in my opinion, and now they have to reap what they have sowed. I fear the next four years, if the council lasts that long, are going to be an embarrassment if the recent demonstration is anything to go by.
Tony Mansfield, Lambton
Peacekeepers have key job to do
AFTER Israel's attack on UN peacekeepers, does anyone seriously believe Hezbollah are hiding in or beneath United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) bases or is it payback for peacekeepers revealing Israel's Qana massacre and its subsequent lies? Israel is apparently targeting observation towers and wants the peacekeepers moved. What is it they don't want the world to see?
Colin Fordham, Lambton
How we can stamp out petty crime in the city
FURTHER to Jo Coombes letter ("Precious heritage lost in run-down city centre", Letters, 11/10), I believe there is a worsening problem in the CBD with vandalism and a serious lack of visible policing.
The outrageously expensive beachside skate park is a ridiculous waste of money in my view, and does not even seem to appeal to the gangs of skateboarders who descend on the CBD at the weekends. These individuals seem to prefer skating along the footpaths and roads in town, damaging the commercial and historic buildings and often bringing bad behaviour, petty crime and graffiti with them. This is all within a few hundred metres of Newcastle Police Station.
Why can't we have some police on the beat in town as a service to the community?
Michael Bowler, Newcastle
Time to take aim at odd gun logic
AS a frequent viewer of the US Catastrophe News programs screened locally, I am outraged to see that the second amendment right of Americans is being violated during this current US election with the arrest of a third alleged Trump shooter, or just a man enjoying his right to arm bears or however it is locally described.
Surely all Americans have the right to bear arms, at all times, in public places. Surely the best defence against one Republican shooter is to have the audience at a Trump event filled with "good" armed Republicans ready and willing to shoot back at any perceived threat to their Orange Jesus leader, rather than relying on fallible government services. After all, they're probably operating under "deep state" orders anyway, right?
If only there were an organisation in America to stand up for the rights of American guns and American gun owners.
Garry P Dalrymple, Earlwood
Listen, we've spoken on the Voice
GREG Hunt ("Government still not listening", Letters, 15/10): I reckon you are being hypocritical in your letter. If you did listen to Indigenous people you would understand the Voice was their idea, not Albo's.
So when (I assume) you voted 'no' to the Voice referendum it was yourself and the general public that walked away from listening to Indigenous voices. For Albo to send their request to a referendum - well, it proved he did listen to them ...
Furthermore I believe the referendum did not get up for two reasons: it did not have bipartisan support, and referendums rarely get up without bi-partisan support; also, there was nothing in it for the majority of Australians.
It was only there to help the Indigenous community, so perhaps there had to be something in a proposal for the general population to get over their reluctance to change. That's particularly true in the face of negative campaigns from those that stood against the proposal.
Glen Wilson, Cardiff
Someone's there if you reach out
I WRITE on behalf of the not-for-profit Mental Illness Fellowship Australia to highlight to readers that if you or someone you know is facing a mental health issue, reach out. Help is out there.
It is absolutely critical that there is much more action from all governments to support people in your area who have severe mental health issues. It is now estimated an alarming 68 per cent of people who have severe mental health issues are missing out on any kind of community support to help them.
We are completely focused on getting rid of the stigma around severe mental illness in particular. It is time we all realised people who are affected need our support. On average, people with severe mental illness die 23 years earlier than the general population. Half of people with severe mental illness attempt suicide compared to 3.7 per cent of the general population.
A huge number of people are getting no community support whatsoever for their condition. It is critical to end the massive neglect of people who have mental illness in Australia. Thousands and thousands of Australians with mental health issues are ending up in our local hospitals and emergency departments because they believe it is the only option for them.
The current system unfortunately actively channels people into emergency and hospital services, placing massive extra pressure on the system. So much trauma is involved with this process. We urge people in your area to realise recovery is unquestionably possible.
We have a key not-for-profit network called Finding North which has become a growing community on the internet, to link people with mental health issues with others in a similar situation so they can share their experiences. It is a powerful tool for readers to easily access.
Tony Stevenson, Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia chief executive
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Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; beyondblue 1300 224 636.
