comment,
I AM in awe of Supercars knowing with such certainty, hence setting a date for March 2022, they will be able to beat COVID in the race for dominance in Newcastle and indeed Australia. Given the enormous uncertainty displayed daily by NSW Health and both state and federal governments concerning how to keep the citizens of Australia safe, it appears Supercars and our council have it all worked out. Has Supercars been guided by our lord mayor’s psychic abilities expressed previously (“Supercars back March 4-6”, Herald 29/9) where she states local businesses will have a busy period of trade during the Supercar week? To know for certain COVID won’t be a major health risk and local businesses will thrive due to Supercars coming back sounds like confidence over competence, in my opinion. IN Kevin Coffey and Chris Everingham’s opinion piece on the Supercars, (“Good day out not necessarily a good deal”, Opinion 25/9), I believe the use of Newcastle Partnerships Survey Data can be called a rather flimsy representation as it only covers 515 respondents out of over 117,000 registered people in the Newcastle district. That equates to 0.44 per cent of the population and two thirds of those were women, so it’s not a very even mix of society. They also don’t elaborate on what Archer Capital do or have done, and who is buying the Supercars. I believe it’s a ploy to make their argument sound better SO the lord mayor is confident that Supercars will produce manna from heaven for local businesses during the first week of March 2022 (“Supercar back March 4-6”, Herald 29/9). She confidently predicts that “businesses can now prepare for the busy period of trading over the summer holidays through to February, with another boost in the first week of March”. Whilst many would dispute that business houses make money during the week leading up to Supercars, the lord mayor appears to be acknowledging that businesses usually do poorly during Supercars’ nine-week set-up/take-down period. The month of February ought to be a month when Newcastle’s East End is full of vibrancy. Not so however if parking is taken away, concrete barriers and steel mesh are installed and interminable roadworks are carried out. For some businesses, after getting through COVID, Supercars might just be the straw that broke the camel’s back. OVER the past few months several Newcastle Herald readers have described the Newcastle CBD as what can be summarised as an “eyesore”. The situation has been clearly considered in John Fear’s “Light rail’s heavy cost too much”, Letters, 28/9 and Short Takes also has a damning article by Peter Sansom from Kahibah about what is happening to the final parcel of land in Honeysuckle. Newcastle history has been destroyed. Iconic buildings, flora, entertainment venues and relaxation amenities have been decimated. It has been well publicised these days that the general public don’t trust politicians. I take that as ‘a given’ and encourage fellow citizens to take time out from their busy lives and determine whether Revitalising Newcastle, and the “open slather” of destruction to the above-mentioned history has been created by a democratic process involving residents of the area. IT is good to hear that the council is thinking of the future sometimes, even though it is not with their money. Dare I say that by the time such a rail bypass they are proposing becomes a reality – probably when I am well gone – the centre of Newcastle’s population will be somewhere near Cameron Park. Perhaps then, given the railway no longer serves Newcastle City, the main service could serve a central Newcastle station at Cameron Park or thereabouts, while continuing to the Airport and Nelson Bay, or perhaps Maitland. Maybe by then the right of way might also carry the Sydney-Brisbane high-speed train. “Old” Newcastle could then be served by a connecting “tram-train” service (something between a tram and a train, common in Europe) from Fassifern, with a less intrusive crossing at Adamstown and a useful station within walking distance of Westfield Kotara. Maybe by then we might even have a station at Glendale. One can only dream… THE proposal put forward by the City of Newcastle for a rail link to connect the proposed freight rail bypass with a rail link that would run via Tomago to Kooragang and possibly to a container terminal on the former BHP site is interesting. However, if the map which appeared in the September 27 issue of this publication is correct, then it would seem the rail corridor through Tomago would run along the floodplain adjacent to the Hunter River. I would have thought it would make more sense to run this line on higher ground closer to the industries at Tomago. The industries would then have the option of rail access and the railway would be away from an area which is prone to flooding. If this line goes ahead, I would also like to see additional lines from it that would run to Raymond Terrace and the airport at Williamtown. Such a railway does seem to have considerable merit, but more thought needs to be put into the final route. FURTHER to Bruce Cook (Short Takes, 27/9) implying that getting the COVID jab in the Newcastle/Hunter area is not that easy, if at all possible. I would say if Mr Cook is having difficulties getting his jab then he is not really trying. Two weeks ago my wife rang our local pharmacy at 9am and received her jab at 10am same day, no problem there. Even Pfizer is quite readily available; one of my customers received their Pfizer within two weeks of making her appointment. WITH Supercars returning (“Supercars back March 4-6”, Herald 29/8) I believe there is only one word to describe the continuation of this event in its non-negotiable Newcastle location: disgusting. Shame on our current councillors. WHY is it that almost all articles in the paper regarding COVID have to include how many people are in hospital, how many are in intensive care and how many are on ventilators? I find this the most useless piece of information one would want to know. WHY, when I watch the news all I hear is when Sydney opens up? What about the rest of NSW? WITH pubs and clubs concerned about anti vaxxers protesting against vaxxed patrons being allowed to enter and having to hire more security, if anyone protests against me going for a cold one after work they might receive two jabs from me. AUSTRALIANS have been hooked on free PCR COVID tests for the past 18 months and will they be willing to fork out their own cash for single use Home Rapid Antigen Test kits which are not cheap at the present moment? I WELL remember how both Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison were parachuted into safe seats. Notice that Scott Morrison has not commented on Kristina Keneally. THE days of any Australian Prime Minister being given an open-ended authorisation to go to war are over, more so to any PM who dances in tune to American war tom-toms. We will decide if we go to war, not some armchair PM soldier, who has fallen under the spell of American war tom-toms. WITH ScoMo reluctant to attend and on the nose with European leaders, particularly France, maybe Barnaby Joyce could articulate our stance on non-climate action in Glasgow. He’d be bound to impress. THE two biggest issues in the Newcastle Herald, for Newcastle on Tuesday were coal ash and COVID. Hopefully we can open our Heralds tomorrow and read how the developers of the Mosbri Crescent development have designed and planned their development for living with COVID and living with coal ash. ADZ Carter, you seem to have all the issues and answers to all that is happening in Newcastle. Why are you not putting yourself up in the forthcoming council elections? You seem to have all the answers. I AM sure that Daniel Repacholi is a good candidate for the seat of Hunter (‘Dan takes aim’, Herald 26/9), but the overarching question is why doesn’t Labor’s national executive trust the rank and file? Not a good look, in my opinion. NEWCASTLE council advises we will have no problem accessing our pristine beaches throughout November, December and all of January. It seems they might think it’s ok if there’s a problem accessing our pristine beaches throughout February, March and April. Time to stop this Supercars madness. SHOULD Newcastle host Supercars beyond 2022?
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HAVE YOUR SAY
October 2 2021 – 4:00AM
I AM in awe of Supercars knowing with such certainty, hence setting a date for March 2022, they will be able to beat COVID in the race for dominance in Newcastle and indeed Australia.
Given the enormous uncertainty displayed daily by NSW Health and both state and federal governments concerning how to keep the citizens of Australia safe, it appears Supercars and our council have it all worked out. Has Supercars been guided by our lord mayor’s psychic abilities expressed previously (“Supercars back March 4-6”, Herald 29/9) where she states local businesses will have a busy period of trade during the Supercar week? To know for certain COVID won’t be a major health risk and local businesses will thrive due to Supercars coming back sounds like confidence over competence, in my opinion.
Jackie Furey, Newcastle East
Statistics don’t tell whole tale
IN Kevin Coffey and Chris Everingham’s opinion piece on the Supercars, (“Good day out not necessarily a good deal”, Opinion 25/9), I believe the use of Newcastle Partnerships Survey Data can be called a rather flimsy representation as it only covers 515 respondents out of over 117,000 registered people in the Newcastle district. That equates to 0.44 per cent of the population and two thirds of those were women, so it’s not a very even mix of society.
They also don’t elaborate on what Archer Capital do or have done, and who is buying the Supercars. I believe it’s a ploy to make their argument sound better
Race may put traders in bad place
SO the lord mayor is confident that Supercars will produce manna from heaven for local businesses during the first week of March 2022 (“Supercar back March 4-6”, Herald 29/9). She confidently predicts that “businesses can now prepare for the busy period of trading over the summer holidays through to February, with another boost in the first week of March”. Whilst many would dispute that business houses make money during the week leading up to Supercars, the lord mayor appears to be acknowledging that businesses usually do poorly during Supercars’ nine-week set-up/take-down period.
The month of February ought to be a month when Newcastle’s East End is full of vibrancy. Not so however if parking is taken away, concrete barriers and steel mesh are installed and interminable roadworks are carried out. For some businesses, after getting through COVID, Supercars might just be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Les Brennan, Newcastle East
Feedback hasn’t been felt
OVER the past few months several Newcastle Herald readers have described the Newcastle CBD as what can be summarised as an “eyesore”. The situation has been clearly considered in John Fear’s “Light rail’s heavy cost too much”, Letters, 28/9 and Short Takes also has a damning article by Peter Sansom from Kahibah about what is happening to the final parcel of land in Honeysuckle. Newcastle history has been destroyed. Iconic buildings, flora, entertainment venues and relaxation amenities have been decimated.
It has been well publicised these days that the general public don’t trust politicians. I take that as ‘a given’ and encourage fellow citizens to take time out from their busy lives and determine whether Revitalising Newcastle, and the “open slather” of destruction to the above-mentioned history has been created by a democratic process involving residents of the area.
Possibilities abound in rail
IT is good to hear that the council is thinking of the future sometimes, even though it is not with their money.
Dare I say that by the time such a rail bypass they are proposing becomes a reality – probably when I am well gone – the centre of Newcastle’s population will be somewhere near Cameron Park. Perhaps then, given the railway no longer serves Newcastle City, the main service could serve a central Newcastle station at Cameron Park or thereabouts, while continuing to the Airport and Nelson Bay, or perhaps Maitland. Maybe by then the right of way might also carry the Sydney-Brisbane high-speed train.
“Old” Newcastle could then be served by a connecting “tram-train” service (something between a tram and a train, common in Europe) from Fassifern, with a less intrusive crossing at Adamstown and a useful station within walking distance of Westfield Kotara. Maybe by then we might even have a station at Glendale.
Geoff Hassall, Birmingham Gardens
Don’t bypass airport train link
THE proposal put forward by the City of Newcastle for a rail link to connect the proposed freight rail bypass with a rail link that would run via Tomago to Kooragang and possibly to a container terminal on the former BHP site is interesting. However, if the map which appeared in the September 27 issue of this publication is correct, then it would seem the rail corridor through Tomago would run along the floodplain adjacent to the Hunter River. I would have thought it would make more sense to run this line on higher ground closer to the industries at Tomago. The industries would then have the option of rail access and the railway would be away from an area which is prone to flooding. If this line goes ahead, I would also like to see additional lines from it that would run to Raymond Terrace and the airport at Williamtown. Such a railway does seem to have considerable merit, but more thought needs to be put into the final route.
Supply is there if you look
FURTHER to Bruce Cook (Short Takes, 27/9) implying that getting the COVID jab in the Newcastle/Hunter area is not that easy, if at all possible. I would say if Mr Cook is having difficulties getting his jab then he is not really trying. Two weeks ago my wife rang our local pharmacy at 9am and received her jab at 10am same day, no problem there.
Even Pfizer is quite readily available; one of my customers received their Pfizer within two weeks of making her appointment.
Race’s place is a disgrace
WITH Supercars returning (“Supercars back March 4-6”, Herald 29/8) I believe there is only one word to describe the continuation of this event in its non-negotiable Newcastle location: disgusting. Shame on our current councillors.
Richard Devon, Fishing Point
Healthy detail is too much
WHY is it that almost all articles in the paper regarding COVID have to include how many people are in hospital, how many are in intensive care and how many are on ventilators? I find this the most useless piece of information one would want to know.
Graeme Bennett, Warners Bay
Focus on capital punishing
WHY, when I watch the news all I hear is when Sydney opens up? What about the rest of NSW?
WITH pubs and clubs concerned about anti vaxxers protesting against vaxxed patrons being allowed to enter and having to hire more security, if anyone protests against me going for a cold one after work they might receive two jabs from me.
Mick Porter, Raymond Terrace
AUSTRALIANS have been hooked on free PCR COVID tests for the past 18 months and will they be willing to fork out their own cash for single use Home Rapid Antigen Test kits which are not cheap at the present moment?
Alan Hamilton, Hamilton East
I WELL remember how both Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison were parachuted into safe seats. Notice that Scott Morrison has not commented on Kristina Keneally.
Dennis Petrovic, Rutherford
THE days of any Australian Prime Minister being given an open-ended authorisation to go to war are over, more so to any PM who dances in tune to American war tom-toms. We will decide if we go to war, not some armchair PM soldier, who has fallen under the spell of American war tom-toms.
Richard Ryan, Summerland Point
WITH ScoMo reluctant to attend and on the nose with European leaders, particularly France, maybe Barnaby Joyce could articulate our stance on non-climate action in Glasgow. He’d be bound to impress.
THE two biggest issues in the Newcastle Herald, for Newcastle on Tuesday were coal ash and COVID. Hopefully we can open our Heralds tomorrow and read how the developers of the Mosbri Crescent development have designed and planned their development for living with COVID and living with coal ash.
ADZ Carter, you seem to have all the issues and answers to all that is happening in Newcastle. Why are you not putting yourself up in the forthcoming council elections? You seem to have all the answers.
John Dickenson, Newcastle West
I AM sure that Daniel Repacholi is a good candidate for the seat of Hunter (‘Dan takes aim’, Herald 26/9), but the overarching question is why doesn’t Labor’s national executive trust the rank and file? Not a good look, in my opinion.
NEWCASTLE council advises we will have no problem accessing our pristine beaches throughout November, December and all of January. It seems they might think it’s ok if there’s a problem accessing our pristine beaches throughout February, March and April. Time to stop this Supercars madness.
John Hudson, Newcastle East
Email letters@newcastleherald.com.au or send a text message to 0427 154 176 (include name and suburb). Letters should be fewer than 200 words. Short Takes should be fewer than 50 words. Correspondence may be edited in any form.
SHOULD Newcastle host Supercars beyond 2022?
