I refer to Peter Sansom's letter ("Complexities to mall's downfall", Letters, 21/9). Now living in the city, I don't want the CBD to ever be the same again.
In parts, it was outdated and crumbling with many buildings beyond modern use. There were exceptions, of course, and I would include the wonderful T&G building, beautifully presented and occupied, and the CBC bank chambers has recently had a change of use and is restored and occupied.
Many venues, cafes, restaurants and specialty shops are now visited by the people who live in the city and not in need of transport. I would agree that parking is in high demand, but since the parking station was demolished and not replaced the problem has grown.
I previously lived in Mayfield and often travelled through the Hamilton railway gates and very rarely saw more than a dozen passengers on any train as it left for Newcastle. Newcastle Station closed as it was under-used.
I was one of the undecided when the closure was announced, but now I marvel at its current use and ease of access to the harbour, not to mention the light rail.
We need approvals now for buildings to house both residential and commercial, and to build a mall that meets current needs and is not the same as the past, but maybe even better.
Denise Lindus Trummel, Newcastle
Perfectly imperfect chance
UNFORTUNATELY, there are those who have an unrealistic view of our elected officials.
They will never please everyone, and we will not always agree with them.
Whether we like it or not, no one is perfect. The former Newcastle council may not have been perfect, but at least they were progressive.
They at least tried to take our city into the future and not into the past. Don't forget previous councils which were very dysfunctional. Former councils that had great ideas but no solutions. Remember the big boulder. An icon of dysfunction. Let's not get started. We could go on all day.
Let's hope the newly elected council is progressive and keeps Newcastle on the right path for all Novocastrians.
Colin Rowlatt, Merewether
Fresh start for city
IT'S like the doors and windows of our beloved Newcastle have been flung open and fresh air and sunshine are flowing through its rooms and corridors once again.
The people have voted and we have a new mayor as well as some new councillors ("The 20 promises of our new lord mayor, Herald, 20/9).
Congratulations goes to the incoming mayor, Ross Kerridge and his team for a grand achievement.
No doubt there are hurts and disappointments but the people of Newcastle have obviously wanted change and it has come about in a democratic way.
Let us hope the newly elected council can move on in unity, goodwill and with a fresh vision always with its constituents at heart.
Julie Robinson, Cardiff
Reasonable questions, not dirt
I was surprised to read Nuatali Nelmes' claim that "Kerridge ran the dirtiest campaign in Newcastle's history". ("Nelmes' blast for Kerridge", Herald, 21/9). I followed the campaign as best I could, and don't recall seeing anything that could justify that description.
I understood that within the Labor Party there was some considerable disagreement during the preselection process and that Dr Kerridge had been a member of that party for a long time.
But I did not see any of that animosity or "dirt" spill into the public domain.
I certainly had few questions about "policy" under Cr Nelmes such as the Supercars events, the cost of the Newcastle beach skate park and the extraordinary absence of the $500,000 a year general manager.
But, as uncomfortable as those questions might have been, they were certainly not "dirt". They were questions on the lips of many ratepayers. I ask Cr Nelmes to give some examples of the "dirt" to which she refers.
Bruce Williams, Merewether
SHORT TAKES
Excitement builds for new stadium
I, LIKE many other Novocastrians, look forward to the new basketball courts and stadium opposite the McDonald Jones Stadium.
David Alexander, Mayfield East
Reasons for loss
NUATALI Nelmes appears to be looking everywhere for the reason why 70 per cent of voters in a rock-solid rusted-on Labor town did not want her to continue as lord mayor ("Nelmes' blast for Kerridge", Newcastle Herald, 21/9). I believe that, somewhere along the career path, she seems to have forgotten the lord mayor's main role is to serve the people, not the other way round.
Dave McTaggart, Edgeworth
Political barbs both ways
INTERESTING to read that Nuatali Nelmes is complaining about the personal attacks in the lord mayor campaign ("Nelmes' blast for Kerridge", Herald, 21/9). I seem to recall her referring to Ross Kerridge as a rich, white, ageing male and comparing him and his cohorts to Donald Trump. Hardly complimentary I'd have thought. There's an old saying, Cr Nelmes, if you wanna dance, you gotta pay the band. Good luck with your future career.
Matt Ophir, Charlestown
Back to basics a good start
REGARDING "Lord mayor's to-do list" (Herald, 20/9), it sounds basic, practical and exactly what local councils should be doing. When is the CEO back to work?
Shane Tull, Redhead
Pay-day for lawyers
LAUREN Cassimatis would be out of work if crime were abolished ('Australia can do much better than prison for our children", Opinion, 20/9). Lawyers need the status quo to keep cashing in.
Nathan McGeorge, Shortland
Mid-East rescue mission
HOW many Australian pensioners is Albanese going to rescue from Lebanon and bring them home from that war zone?
Alan Hamilton, Hamilton East
Not so keen on EVs
IAN Thomas ("Electric cars have role to play", Letters, 20/9), just one comment; who in their right mind would ever purchase a second hand EV?
Graeme Bennett, Warners Bay
Making informed choice
IN reply to Mervyn Smith ("Steady stream of reasons in voter apathy", Letters, 16/9), my concern about media coverage leading up to Saturday's local government elections was solely about mayoral candidates. For previous elections, details about candidates for positions as councillors were also included. Doing so would have helped voters like me who don't follow a particular party to make a more informed choice. I like to vote for people and policies, not parties and politics.
Peter Newey, Waratah
Albo's pat on back
ALBO is one of the best prime ministers we've ever had. It must be right because he told me so himself.
