Readers say Carss Park pool vote a betrayal

Abject cowardice!

Whenever this matter has come before Council, there have been hundreds of residents in the gallery. Angry people demanding the pool be rebuilt on that location. Would they have been brave enough if the gallery was full? No, they particularly chose this week to bring the matter up to an empty chamber! Safe under cover of COVID lockdown.

And what of Todd Park? Has due diligence been done there? It was a wetland, a market garden and there is possible contamination from a petrol station! How much will that 'rectification' cost?

With $5. Million promised by the Prime Minister ONLY at the Carss Park site it seems a no brainer to put it anywhere else

Suzanne O' Connor, address supplied

From recent media reports, it would appear that the demolition and disposal of the Kogarah War Memorial Olympic swimming pool is a forgone conclusion (7 News, May 27)

Why then the extended and long-winded council farce of getting then rejecting community feedback - after the expensive engineering analysis - which overwhelmingly favoured the practical and most suitable Carrs Park site? If it could be done at the site decades ago, why not now?

Yes, I do understand that construction brings local upheaval. Still, many larger sites around Sydney are worse. They involve more drastic engineering solutions, a standout being Sydney Football Stadium, and every site located in and around Sydney's eastern suburbs with similar soils.

There are a plethora of new swimming complexes either on the drawing board or about to be constructed. Yet, Georges River Council and predecessor have simply stuck to formality, red tape and delay.

Richard Piech, Sans Souci

This is the opening and last paragraph of an email I sent to the Prime Minister of Australia on January 28, 2020, as follows:

"I doubt that the death toll and the number of cases of Coronavirus are accurately being reported to the world by China. It is probably being under-reported."

"Your Government should ensure the highest duty of care towards Australians, to prevent any illness or deaths due to Coronavirus."

Right now, with Australia divided into no go zones, we need a broader conversation on the management of the Novel Coronavirus, with more views being considered from thinking Australians. They are not paid by the taxpayer or media bosses.

The Australian government failed in its "duty of care" towards all those Australians who have died, became sick, lost their jobs and savings due to COVID since he flew home the Wuhan evacuees.

Joanne Jones, address supplied

Our branch of the National Parks Association of NSW can't recall an issue it has dealt with in 50 years that has elicited so much community support as its opposition to planned Longwall mining under the Woronora Dam pondage. Your article "Coal Mine Appeal" of 6th May documents Sutherland Council's formal opposition, and our Association is one of 10 environmental and community groups also opposed to taking risks with our water supply. The precautionary principle surely dictates that driving massive mining leads beneath dam waters is a risk too far when the Leader has reported how streams have dried up following rock cracking and when endangered swamps have dried out in several coal company operations. A determined and principled government would push ahead with research on Hydrogen alternatives to coking coal, noting that banks and insurance companies are withdrawing their support for a fossil fuel-based economy. We know from the Covid-19 experience that Government's CAN deal with fostering economic alternatives in times of crisis. Climate change is an even greater existential threat than Covid-19. It needs the same or even greater urgency from government.NPA calls on this state government to withdraw mining approvals from under the Woronora Dam pondage in the first instance and act more creatively to explore solutions that don't depend on further risking Sydney's water supply and the precious ring of green that surrounds our beautiful city.

Gary Schoer, Oatley

Write to the editor craig.thomson@austcommunitymedia.com.au