YOUR SAY: Call for a united effort against toll roads

Federal and state governments promoted this roadway as the way to get traffic off local roads. $20.00 each way for trucks and over $6.00 each way for cars. Four per cent annual increase in toll for 25 years. Sadly, in the present Virus Pandemic, businesses and people are forced to use cars, can't afford this gouging impost.

In the 1980s when the M5 west was brought to King Georges Road from the south, state, federal MPs and local councils stood with their communities against traffic forced from the tollway onto King Georges Rd., Stoney Creek Rd. and Forest Road from Beverly Hills to Bexley and then Arncliffe and Port Botany. People's health and wellbeing was a priority.

Eventually, the state government decided a tunnel from Bexley North to Kyeemagh was the solution and Bob Carr made this new tunnel free. United action brought a positive change.

Now Liverpool, Canterbury Bankstown and Bayside councils have resolved to stop the toll and get the traffic off local roads. Chris Minns (Kogarah) and Steve Kamper (Rockdale) have taken up the battle for their people. Where are the Westconnex advocates, David Coleman (Banks) and Mark Coure (Oatley) Both gained votes for their plan to get cars and trucks off local roads? People were not told of major toll hits to their pockets and businesses during our last state and federal election.

Hurstville Mayor Bryan McDonald was in the forefront in the 80s. Where is Georges River Mayor, Kevin Greene? This is more important than picture ops. We need direct action, not letters. This means delegations to Ministers and the Premier. We need united effort NOW.

Brian Shaw, President

St George District Residents Network Inc.

We who are interested in community affairs are being hard-pressed to keep up with the Council's activities.

Those of us who logged in to the last Council meeting were amazed that the Councillors were asked to turn off their microphones during the meeting.

The online meeting resumed at around 10:30 pm.

Should we all have waited in silence for the broadcast to reopen after an hour and a half of silence?

Impossible! Any ' in camera ' discussions should take place at the end of the meeting! Then we, the public, can see the full meeting.

Did anyone tune back in?

These are simple matters. Undoubtedly not too challenging to deal with unless there is something that the Georges River Council does not want us to see or hear.

Suzanne O'Connor

How does the RMS obtain 'expert' advise that recommends that a pedestrian crossing be removed because it is 'not safe'?

Is it because the 'expert' advise ignores the human factor? That is, office workers and school children will not wait two minutes and 22 seconds to cross a road while their train or only school bus leaves without them, as witnessed every morning, afternoon and evening.

Yet, this deadly calamity is deemed as a safer alternative to a pedestrian crossing.

Who's kidding who?

When the RMS wants to find an 'expert' to advise them on a decision that favours trucks and cars over pedestrians, they do. No conflict of interest here. Move on!

Did that RMS 'expert' advice also recommend that the traffic lights 50 metres from the pre-existing crossing, be changed to allow pedestrians to cross every 90 seconds, as is the standard for pedestrian safety?

THIS part of the advice has NOT been implemented, and so, the death zone is created.

Who is going to be found liable when the removal of the crossing causes a death?

Maybe we should remove ALL pedestrian crossings and allow cars 100 per cent right-of-way on all roads?

What is the RMS 'expert' advise on that?

John English

Beverly Hills North Progress Association

It is a disappointment that the Georges River Council appears to be failing with regard to community engagement.

The first sentence in the Councils Community Engagement Strategy, under the heading 'Why is Community Engagement Important?' says "Community engagement is the foundation to good governance."

Issues with Community Engagement reported by The St George and Sutherland Leader in the last six months include:

At what point does the "Minister reasonably believe(s) that the appointment of an interim administrator is necessary to restore the proper or effective functioning of the council"?

How many more examples do we need before action is taken? two, five ....10 ?

R.Morton

Kogarah

I can understand some people not enjoying the scantily clad women on the Miranda mural.

Different strokes.

Perhaps some nubile ladies as portrayed by Goya or a depiction of Michaelangelo"s David with his famous appendage would be more acceptable?

Gary Frances,

Bexley

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

Letters should be no more than 300-350 words.

Some years back, I had friends who lived in Appin. With mines beneath the whole area, repairs were done to ALL properties, by the mining company when subsidence occurred, which was constant.

So, who puts in a claim when our water supply suddenly disappears, years down the track?

And whoever is behind this travesty is bound to wave the tired old excuse that it 'will create 45,000 jobs' because that's being done to death. It's all about greed, making money by individuals, and leaving this country, not 'a land of sweeping plains' but 'a land of enormous holes and tunnels'

No, enough is enough, let's put a stop to another dangerous get rich quick scheme.

Lyn Pereira