Disgraceful use of public money by Liberals

I clearly recall the simplistic and dismissive attitude of the Coalition pre-election to public questions about the suitability and necessity for all-day free commuter parking. There was no doubt then in my mind, as it still is, that it was last minute electioneering with public money, especially by a party polling badly.

Simplistic and disingenuous past and current assurances of the "need for car parks" while not specifically addressing all-day commuter ones for a select few, or taking a handful of cars off the road, are inane defences defying and lacking all credibility. Those defences expose a hidden or inane agenda when a more compelling need exists for infrastructure such as public transport. Commuter car parks also require increased spending on roads.

For a government that staunchly defended the need for "cost-benefit analysis", the Coalition ignored and neglected its responsibilities to the needs of all commuters. It could have offered free public transport for everyone, not free parking for an insignificant fraction of the travelling public, and putting on not taking off cars on the road.

R Piech, Sans Souci

The new 'Mortdale Master Plan' is deeply disturbing. Whilst gradual change is a normal condition of life, it seems that what is being considered is a wholesale obliteration of our community, sweeping away our landmark buildings that link us to our past and imposing high-density conformity upon us. Planners should see that this is not a blank canvas to re-imagine but a living and thriving community with a unique identity. Sadly I fear that the sun is setting upon my beloved homeland, and all we can do is weep for our loss.

Anthony Ridgway, Mortdale.

Given that Georges River Council did not give the community enough time to study the complex Mortdale Masterplan, which will change the face of the classic older-style suburb forever, it was pleasing to see that the consultation period has been extended to September 27.

However, it was disappointing that Mayor Kevin Greene disallowed Cr Landsberry's suggestion for the matter to be debated as an "urgency" motion. Although Cr Greene approved the extension under his emergency powers, I strongly believe that he should have allowed it to be voted on by the councillors in line with our time-honoured democratic practices. It was also surprising that none of the Mortdale Ward councillors (Crs Hindi, Tegg and Konjarski) had placed the issue on the agenda, seeing that their ward will suffer the most from the proposed changes ("More time to consider the draft Mortdale Master Plan", July 27).

Peter Mahoney, Oatley

Start with a roadblock that's been getting worse for years due to a one-lane traffic bridge over the railway line that splits Boundary Road and Hurstville Road at Mortdale. Then develop a huge playground and community centre 20 metres on the Mortdale side of the bridge. Then allow a massive childcare centre to be built 20 metres on the Oatley side of the bridge. Finally, add to this infrastructure horror story by allowing an entrance to the Mortdale train shed expansion construction site to be located directly opposite the childcare centre.

The outcome from this planning disaster for taxpayers and ratepayers?

Significantly increased risk to pedestrians and vehicles around this precinct, no room left to safely widen the one-way road bridge and increased traffic congestion in the back streets of Mortdale and Oatley West as drivers try to avoid a bottleneck exacerbated by approved development either side of a one-lane road bridge on a key arterial road.

Unbelievable !!!

Simon Flack, Oatley.

There is something unfair about the distribution of the Pfizer vaccine in NSW. I am unable to have the Astrazeneca for medical reasons. I cannot leave my LGA during the lockdown to get vaccinated. Yet St George hospital and local GPs cannot offer me, Pfizer. I note in Southwest Sydney, GPs complained about not being allocated Pfizer while the lower north shore has plenty of supply. Why is there no Pfizer vaccine available in the St George area??

Mary K, Bexley.

While I am in lockdown, I plan to write a bodice-ripping novel of a fictional government run by Scott Morrison.

Gary Frances, Bexley