REPORTS that many people were unaware of the local government elections does not surprise me ("Call to 'do better' on election awareness", Newcastle Herald, 16/9).
Between longer hours of work, a move to streaming rather than live television and an indifference to printed news, this communication deficit was inevitable.
"I mean" subscribe or "like" purchase printed media like the Herald, rather than relying on inane social media for insights into the world around you.
Marvyn Smith, Heddon Greta
Supermarket squeeze hits the elderly hardest
There has been lots of talk about breaking up the supermarket duopoly, but what happens when you only have one of these retailers in your town? This is the case in Nelson Bay. What is happening is a classic example of customers coming last.
I only shop once a fortnight. When I shopped today I found the store had been completely changed, with the elimination of the central aisle so that their clients are now forced to walk up every aisle to look for goods as items locations are changed and the guides that were on the end of aisle have been removed.
I know you are thinking that this is just a lazy bugger, but the average age of residents in the bay is over 70 years old. By the time my carer and I completed my shop I was buggered. It appears that Woolies know we have no option, so our concerns are only related to our credit cards. It seems the convenience of customers is not considered over profits, even if the customer is 95 years old.
Frank Ward, Shoal Bay
Trump's talk is far from safe
A SECOND attempted assassination attempt may not worry ex US president Donald Trump too much. I imagine it will only boost Trump's image in his US election campaign.
I doubt Trump's racist rhetoric against Haitians in Springfield, Ohio to gain votes will tone down or stop. After Trump's social media lies about Haitians, I imagine Springfield's inhabitants are worried about potential attacks. Haitians living there are reported to be fearful about their safety and confused about Trump's spreading lies and misinformation. In my view this latest assassination attempt takes the focus away from Trump's vile lies and instead he becomes the victim instead of Springfield.
Kerry Vernon, New Lambton
Let's court existing resources
THE 'plan' to bulldoze Wallarah and Blackley Ovals for a new indoor stadium doesn't make sense from a basketball sense, let alone the ludicrous proposed location.
Newcastle Basketball states that 20 courts are needed to meet the ever-increasing demand to play basketball in the Hunter. Yet the Blackley Oval proposal is for six courts at present, with a view to 12 courts if further government funding can be secured.
While a new stadium(s) are undoubtedly needed, building a single stadium in the metro area with enough courts just isn't practical or likely. All the while, well more than 20 indoor basketball courts exist across the lower Hunter at schools and community facilities which sit idle and unused after 3.30pm weekdays and on weekends. Surely we can find a way to access, coordinate and utilise these facilities to enable local kids to play basketball, like other sports do? Perhaps state and local government advocacy and funding can be directed at this as a part of a durable long-term solution for local basketball.
Mario D'Amico, Lambton
Sentence had to strike balance
JUSTICE Roy Ellis was given the unenviable task of hearing the Greta bus tragedy case where the trauma of the victims and their families must have been a harrowing experience for all concerned.
The hyperbole from the media leading up to the sentencing hearing did lead to the judge commenting, as reported on two occasions, that this was not about revenge. While the sentence may be to the satisfaction of the victims and their families, I believe it shines a spotlight onto the criminal justice system as to the length of the prison sentence imposed.
Surely there has to be in this case consideration given to the fact the perpetrator has made a stupid and disastrous mistake, as against those who commit a crime with premeditated criminal intent?
Considering his age, this sentence could be life and I just fail to see how it benefits society or the victims of this tragedy.
Eric Burns, Belmont
Devils lie in real estate details
I believe the "House prices dropping as market cools" headline (Herald, 12/9), is an incorrect interpretation of the presented data supplied by Corelogic. It is the same incorrect interpretation when the media says the market is rising based on the Corelogic data supplied.
As a long time passionate property professional and subscriber to Corelogic Data, the data supplied is always based on the median price of properties sold.
That does not mean that prices are going up or that prices are going down as the median is just the middle of the range of those properties sold.
If a lot of less expensive properties happen to be sold in the reporting period then the median of those sales will be less than at other times. Similarly, if a lot more expensive properties happen to hit the market in the reporting period then the median of those sales will be higher than other times.
Take for example a scenario of 100 new units selling off the plan in the reporting period with a median price of $1.5 million.
That does not mean that every unit in Newcastle is suddenly worth $1.5 million. Prices will always depend on supply and demand.
There is a constant supply issue and with the huge immigration alone there is a huge ongoing demand.
Be comfortable with good real estate. It will look after you forever.
David Podmore, Wickham
Many expendable grocery items
I SHOULD have taken Jan Trevillian's ("Tighten belt, don't blame profits", Letters, 9/9), advice and not bought the chips, dip, cheese, crackers, Kransky and beer to enjoy whilst watching our Knights on Saturday evening. It was such an exciting game, all I really needed was the beer; the food didn't get touched, but the fingernails got chewed. Already looking forward to next season.
Dave McTaggart, Edgeworth
Roads, rates and rubbish
I'M just totally amazed at the naivete when it comes to local elections. Ratepayers don't want party-led politics, we just want good basic services and lower rates.
Tony Mansfield, Lambton
Broadcast's footy call stood out
Watching the Sunday footy on Nine, did anyone else hear some bloke yelling out to his mate Wayne Kerr every time Manly was kicking for goal?
Mick Porter, Raymond Terrace
Coal's lingering, not renewables
CARL Stevenson (Letters, 14/9), you say you want coal fired power stations to last until there is something more reliable, but there were more blackouts due to coal fired power station outages in the last year than any other electricity generating technology. Every other technology is more reliable than coal. Instead, coal fired power stations are being propped up, warts and all, until other technologies can take all the load.
