Co-ed school, car park damage and disappearing trees

Great to hear the growing interest in James Cook Technology High School.

I hope the cultural change includes making the school co-ed. Girls also need access to tech courses and boys would have more opportunities to respect women.

I would encourage Mr Marciniak to follow the success Marist College Penshurst has had since it went co-ed in 2015. Marist now has a long waiting list.

Bruce, Penshurst

Re “New Plans for former tax building” (Leader, March 23).

Sharon Raco was reported to have said at a recent Joint Regional Planning Panel meeting that “we would like to see it closer to 12 storeys, we would be ok with that”.  

Ms Raco’s use of the pronoun “we” rather than “I” may lead one to assume that Ms Raco is speaking on behalf of all Hurstville residents concerned about the amenity impacts of the proposed development at the former Tax Office site in Hurstville.

It should, however, be noted that Ms Raco’s comments are not representative of the residents who live in close proximity to the development site.

Ms Raco resides in a street which is located near, and runs parallel to, King Georges Road.  

The residents of this street will therefore not be as greatly affected by the proposed development as those residents who reside in other parts of the O’Brien’s Estate which are located closer to the Tax Office site, such as Rosebank Crescent and O’Brien’s Road, and enjoy the peace and privacy benefits of living in the more salubrious parts of the enclave.

Ms Raco’s comments are disappointing for those residents who will be adversely affected by the proposed development to a greater extent than Ms Raco and who are seeking to have the development set aside. 

Such comments can only lead to a greater loss of amenity for residents who reside very near to the Tax Office site.

Claudette Kaszyckyj, Hurstville

Whilst exiting Westfield Hurstville recently my muffler got ripped off and my undercarriage damaged going over these new speed humps in the car park.

The old humps were ok they now have put steel caps over the old humps - why? 

This makes them higher again and dangerous - costing me $400.

When you ring Westfield you are told you enter at your own risk, Now you also have to pay park and pay to damage your car. We are seniors not speed hoons.

Beware Miranda are now putting in the steel caps.

Jim Howe, Cronulla

I sympathise with Deborah Rogers (Your View, March 23). 

We lost a beautiful and huge gum tree in Blakehurst last year merely because it had shed a branch or two. 

Lessons: don’t stand under a tree when it is windy. If a wall is damaged, repair it - we’ve had to do that.

Trees are too precious but at least our council, Kogarah, replaced ours with many street trees far and wide but they will take a long while to grow. 

Councils, please leave those massive sentinels alone!! 

Kevin Orr, Blakehurst

Re ‘’School drives fete success’’ (Leader, March 30).

Well done! It’s disgusting that schools need to hold their own fundraisers just to have enough funds for air-conditioning.

Natalia Tregubova 

Congratulations to the P&C Association of Lugarno Public School for their great effort towards the school.

Vesna Petrovski