YOUR VIEWS

WRITE TO: P0 Box 1, Southport 4215 EMAIL: editorial@goldcoast.com.au FACEBOOK: facebook.com/goldcoastbulletin

I UNDERSTAND that as well as Gold Coast City Council Deputy Mayor, Donna Gates is also a GC Turf Club board member and honorary life member.

There is a clear conflict of interest when the Gold Coast City Council votes to fill in a lake for extra raceday car parking. Donna Gates declared a conflict of interest but said she did not believe that prevented her from voting.

As she knows from the 10,000 signatures in a petition urging the turf club not to destroy it, the residents/rate payers value the lake.

It enhances the amenity and property value of the area and the lifestyle of those who live and work in the surrounding area.

For the nesting swans and other wildlife it is home – they can’t create a new lake but the turf club can create its own carpark without destroying a beautiful community asset.

Rather than making decisions to benefit the turf club, the Council should act to benefit ratepayers and the city’s natural wildlife.

The turf club will be OK – the swans won’t! SYLVIA COOPER

MINISTER Mark Ryan (Your Views, 21/8) has been caught out trying to thin our blue line of police officers further with his comments about the effective school-based police officer program.

Together with school principals and local police I have been lobbying for a dedicated officer for our high schools for over a year.

In estimates hearings with the minister in July when I asked about the progress of our request I was told there was a different approach rather than appointment of a specific officer.

Now under pressure, the minister says Labor is looking to maximise existing resources.

Gold Coasters aren’t stupid. We know when we are being robbed. JANN STUCKEY, MP FOR CURRUMBIN

TODAY is Daffodil Day, a day to honour Queenslanders affected by cancer. This year marks 31 years of the Queensland campaign, a reminder that we’ve been in this fight for a long time.

Showing you care is easy this Daffodil Day. Simply make a donation, buy a bunch of daffodils, or buy a pin for someone you love.

Make no mistake, Daffodil Day makes a difference in the lives of Queenslanders with cancer.

Over the past 30 years survival rates have drastically improved.

But never forget we have more work to do. Every 20 minutes, one Queenslander is diagnosed with cancer and every hour one will die.

Keep an eye out this year for the limited-edition Fireman Dougal Bear, and donate your change to help us fund more research. MS CHRIS MCMILLIAN, CEO CANCER COUNCIL QUEENSLAND

IT’S time the Gold Coast forget about building casinos and start focusing on making the Broadwater parklands user friendly – pools, pub, markets, food stalls and parking – it would bring the place alive.

Tom and his cronies need to retire and get some forward thinking people on the council. JENNY, GOLD COAST