LetteroftheWeek
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AMONG the powerful pieces in Wednesday’s Bulletin were your editorial about the need for balance and fairness in planning matters.
When the Mayor attacked Lois Levy’s petition demanding better compliance with the City Plan, he showed once again that he totally underestimates the extent of anger in the community about the reduction of liveability that is occurring in many suburbs.
And Keith Woods was absolutely correct in saying that the push for a second casino on the Gold Coast is nothing more than greed by the State Government.
We don’t need a second casino on the Gold Coast, and we certainly don’t want one occupying precious public open space in the family-friendly area of the Broadwater Parklands. SUE DONOVAN I LOVED Keith Woods’ article in (‘Billion dollar project the Coast doesn’t want’, GCB, 19/9/18).
I will leave the Gold Coast if they ever build that place.
I work in Short St, Southport and park at Carey Park on the days I don’t get a park in my office building.
I bring my lunch to work and sit over at the Broadwater Parklands most days at lunch time.
I also go to the beach section at the parklands most weekends in the summer.
I don’t have children but it brings me joy just watching the families and children out and about kicking around a ball or having a picnic or whatever. All that will be spoiled if this goes ahead.
There are so many words to describe the idea – “absolutely ridiculous” and “totally ludicrous” don’t even come close! SHARON WARD, SOUTHPORT IN Wednesday’s Bulletin, Mayor Tom Tate is confusing the issue.
The complaint is that Council frequently exceeds the boundaries of the City Plan and Mayor Tate says that is necessary to house the 15,000 extra people every year coming to live on the Gold Coast.
He thinks the only way to accommodate these people is to allow high-rises that far exceed the planning limits.
The problem is that once one was allowed to do this it set a new standard for the next one until, eventually, there are no limits in the City Plan.
Consider the development application for 3547 Main Beach Pde.
The land area is 1261sqm. The zoning for this area allows for 1 bedroom each 33sq m, a total of 38 bedrooms.
The development plan shows 130 bedrooms or nearly 3.5 times the bedrooms the City Plan allows.
I understand that there are a number of elements to be considered in each application, however, if approved, this development will set new limits for other developments in that area.
This is what the petition was about. Not about the 15,000 extra people a year who need to be accommodated. Apparently, all in high rises? DAVID HUTLEY, MAIN BEACH WOULD you like to know how you can be absolutely certain wind and solar energy cannot power Australia? Imagine every roof and yard has solar panels and every paddock and hill has wind turbines.
How much power do you get on a still night? None. And batteries not yet invented can’t help.
Wind and solar are pointless because they require 100 per cent back-up from coal, gas, diesel, nuclear or large hydro.
They can’t generate the type of energy needed to make replacements of themselves.
Most won’t generate as much energy as it took to build, transport and fit them.
Wind turbines kill bats and birds and large solar sterilises the ground underneath. Most of their parts can’t be recycled.
They’re not economically viable without artificially inflating prices with consumer-funded subsidies.
Claims that wind and solar can “save the environment” or “make power cheaper” are false.
We have been hoaxed, comrades, and those behind it are not on our side. PETER CAMPION MANY are asking why some politicians strongly want another casino for the Gold Coast?
Another casino won’t attract many extra visitors, so how do they justify one, especially as it will reduce the income for clubs?
And the proposal they may provide public land for a private company reinforces the concerns of many that some pollies may benefit from such a deal.
If the State must have another casino, give it to a city which doesn’t already have one. IAN TIMMINS, MERMAID BEACH